Preview: RB Leipzig vs. Stuttgart - prediction, team news, lineups

RB Leipzig can move one point behind league leaders Bayern Munich by beating Stuttgart at home on Friday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, are still searching for their first away win in the Bundesliga this season.

Match preview

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Leipzig's sensational form in recent months continued with a stunning 6-1 victory away to Schalke 04 on Tuesday night, with Andre Silva helping himself to a brace in a clinical first-half performance.

While a Leipzig win was always the most likely outcome against the Bundesliga's rock-bottom side, the nature in which they claimed all three points sent a warning message to potential title rivals Bayern, who had been held by Marco Rose's side last weekend in the first match back after the World Cup.

Joining Silva on the scoresheet were Benjamin Henrichs, Timo Werner, Dani Olmo and Yussuf Poulsen, with Salchi Kozuki scoring a consolation goal for the hosts before the hour mark after his side had trailed 4-0 at half time.

Die Roten Bullen must be ruing their slow start to the season under Rose's predecessor Domenico Tedesco, but a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions under the former Borussia Dortmund boss has ensured that they remain fighting on all three fronts heading into the rest of the campaign.

With two home games against Stuttgart and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal next up for them, Rose will fully expect Leipzig's unbeaten run to be extended with two more wins added to the bank.

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Stuttgart, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to claiming their first league win on the road this season, with Andrej Kramaric injury-time strike seeing Hoffenheim snatch a point in the dying stages at Rhein-Neckar Arena on Tuesday.

The Croatia forward had provided the hosts with the lead after 11 minutes, but Serhou Guirassy and Wataru Endo both scored either side of half time to turn the match on its head.

However, Naouirou Ahamada's second booking of the game left Bruno Labbadia's side under the cosh heading into the last 10 minutes of normal time, with Hoffenheim's pressure ultimately proving too much for them to handle as Kramaric's equaliser ensured that his side remained three points clear of their opponents in the table.

The former Hertha Berlin boss, who is now in his second spell with Stuttgart having been appointed during the World Cup, will be reasonably satisfied with two points from his first two matches in charge, but he will be fully aware that wins are required sooner rather than later in order to move themselves away from relegation danger.

However, Labbadia would almost certainly take another draw away to Leipzig on Friday given the excellent form of their forthcoming opponents, with a trip to Paderborn on Tuesday in the DFB-Pokal potentially presenting itself as a better opportunity to claim his first win since returning to Baden-Wurttemberg.

Team News

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Leipzig will be without the suspended Kevin Kampl, who received his fifth booking of the season against Schalke despite only coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute.

Abdou Diallo, Christopher Nkunku (both knee), Mohamed Simakan (muscle) and Peter Gulasci (ACL) all remain sidelined through injury, with Rose unlikely to make any selection changes having seen his side perform so well during their 6-1 win against Schalke in midweek.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, will travel without Ahamada after the midfielder's dismissal against Hoffenheim. Enzo Millot is likely to replace him in the engine room, while Chris Fuhrich could start on the left flank after replacing Tiago Tomas during the first half due to a hip injury.

Labbadia's side suffered a further blow when Silas was withdrawn with a calf issue, which could keep the winger sidelined for a few weeks. However, Josha Vagnoman made his return late on and could be utilised as a more defensive option on the right flank.

Dan-Axel Zagadou (ligament), Borna Sosa (groin) and Laurin Ulrich (flu) all remain unavailable for selection, further weakening Labbadia's hand ahead of his toughest test yet.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Henrichs, Orban, Gvardiol, Halstenberg; Laimer, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Olmo; Silva, Werner

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Muller; Anton, Mavropanos, Ito, Nartey; Vagnoman, Millot, Karazor, Endo, Fuhrich; Guirassy

We say: RB Leipzig 3-0 Stuttgart

With Stuttgart likely to be missing key personnel through injury and suspension, we expect Leipzig's impressive run of results to continue with a comfortable victory on Friday night.

Rose's side are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions and appear to be Bayern's biggest threat at the top of the table on current form.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.