RB Leipzig will be missing two key players in the shape of Angelino and Tyler Adams when they take on Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Thursday.
Angelino has been dropped for disciplinary reasons, while Adams has been unable to shake off a back injury unlike his teammate Christopher Nkunku, who may have to start out of position at left wing-back in place of Angelino.
January transfer window signing Dominik Szoboszlai, who became the most expensive Hungarian player in history after joining from Red Bull Salzburg for around 20 million euros, is yet to make his debut for Leipzig due to a recurring groin injury.
The 20-year-old has returned to first team training, but is unlikely to be risked by his manager Julian Nagelsmann in such a significant clash. Sunday's league meeting against Wolfsburg could instead be the first time Leipzig fans get to see their new signing in action for them.
Lazar Samardzic has been ruled out of the rest of the campaign with a meniscus injury.
Nagelsmann has much to ponder after his side's 3-2 defeat to Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, especially as Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland was unavailable for that match due to injury and could be set to return for Edin Terzic's side on Thursday.
Marcel Halstenberg could be considered in place of Willi Orban at the back in order to provide more balance as a left-footed central defender, while Nordi Mukiele will almost certainly replace Benjamin Henrichs at right wing-back having played considerably more minutes this season.
Nagelsmann's main dilemma will be whether to line up with an orthodox forward.
Nkunku, Kevin Kampl, Marcel Sabitzer, Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg seem nailed on to join Mukiele in Leipzig's front seven positions, so it is whether the 33-year-old elects to utilise the energy of Amadou Haidara, or side with a striker in the form of one of Hwang Hee-Chan, Alexander Sorloth or Yussuf Poulsen.
Poulsen has barely featured in recent weeks due to injury, so Sorloth may receive the nod in order to ensure Die Roten Bullen retain more potency in forward areas.
Leipzig possible starting line up: Gulacsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg; Mukiele, Sabitzer, Kampl, Nkunku; Olmo, Forsberg; Sorloth
> Click here to see how Borussia Dortmund may line up for this contest
Brett Curtis
