RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt will be competing to move back into the top four of the Bundesliga when they meet each other on Saturday.
Both sides were involved in the Champions League knockout stages in midweek, with Frankfurt losing to Napoli and Leipzig holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw.
Match preview
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Indeed, with fourth-placed Freiburg not playing until they host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, there is a clear opportunity for both of these sides to overtake one of their rivals.
Although Leipzig would move above Christian Streich's side on goal difference with a draw against Frankfurt, Marco Rose will be aware that his side should be in the business of victories at this stage of the season, especially with the top three teams all only four points ahead of them before a ball is kicked this weekend.
However, the 46-year-old would likely have been content with his side's performance and result against Man City on Wednesday, especially having fallen a goal behind to Riyad Mahrez's first half strike for the English champions. Leipzig put in a spirited performance after the break, with Josko Gvardiol's header earning his side a deserved draw to take back to Manchester.
With fixtures against Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach to come before visiting the Etihad Stadium next month, it is clearly a crucial time of Die Roten Bullen's season, which has taken a demonstrable upward curve since Rose replaced Domenico Tedesco in September.
Whether they end up in a battle to potentially win their maiden Bundesliga title, or have to settle for a top-four finish, could be dictated by their next two results against two of their rivals within the division's tightly-knit top six.
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Frankfurt, meanwhile, secured a fourth successive home win in the Bundesliga by comfortably dispatching Werder Bremen 2-0 last weekend, with Randal Kolo Muani scoring his seventh league goal in his last eight appearances.
However, the 24-year-old - whose confidence has clearly been boosted by a break-out World Cup for finalists France - was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge on Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa against Napoli on Tuesday, as his side fell to a 2-0 defeat at Deutsche Bank Park.
Last season's Europa League winners had already trailed at the break to Victor Osimhen's 40th-minute opener, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had missed a penalty following Aurelio Buta's mistimed challenge. Giovanni di Lorenzo doubled the visitors' lead seven minutes after Muani's dismissal to ensure that the Serie A leaders will have a commanding lead to protect at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium next month.
Although they will not have given up hope of overturning the deficit, while also retaining aspirations of winning the DFB-Pokal after progressing to the quarter-finals earlier this month, head coach Oliver Glasner's primary aim for this season will be ensuring that his side compete in Europe's elite competition once again by securing a top-four finish.
As such, the 48-year-old will be desperate for his side to avoid defeat at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday, otherwise they will find themselves at least four points off the pace by the end of the weekend.
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Leipzig have slowly eased Christopher Nkunku back to first-team action from the bench in each of their last two matches, with the France forward still searching for full fitness following his recent knee injury.
The 25-year-old may not start once again versus FRankfurt, especially with a hugely important fixture away to Borussia Dortmund to prepare for next Friday.
Dani Olmo, Peter Gulasci and Abdou Diallo all remain sidelined by long-term injuries, with Rose's only change from the draw against Man City in midweek likely to be reintroducing David Raum to his starting XI as a more attacking left-back.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, will travel without Eric Dina Ebimbe, who is unlikely to return until early April due to an ankle injury.
Muani appeared to suffer a knock prior to being sent off against Napoli on Tuesday and must therefore be considered a doubt, with Rafael Santos Borre standing in wait as a more-than-able deputy in attack.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Forsberg, Werner; Silva
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Tuta, Smolcic, Ndicka; Knauff, Kamada, Rode, Max; Gotze, Lindstrom; Borre
We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Although both teams may start without their most potent attackers due to fitness concerns, we expect to see an entertaining contest between two of Germany's Champions League representatives on Saturday.
While Frankfurt continue to punch above their weight under Glasner, there is little doubt that they are a more effective force on home turf, and we can envisage a narrow Leipzig win as they continue their surge under Rose's tutelage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
