German Bundesliga Soccer - RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund, 6/20/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds
With their future in the top-four still uncertain, 3rd-placed RB Leipzig will play host to 2nd-placed Borussia Dortmund, who have already secured a place in the Champions League for next season. Kick-off - at 9:30 AM ET on Saturday, June 20.
Leipzig Draw With Dusseldorf
RB Leipzig continued to play with fire when it comes to their chances of finishing in the top-four this season after failing to take all three points against relegation-threatened Fortuna Dusseldorf, earning just a 2-2 draw at home at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday. Kevin Kampl and Timo Werner scored three minutes apart in the second half to give the hosts a 2-0 lead before Die Flingeraner cut Leipzig’s advantage in half with three minutes remaining, eventually tying the proceedings deep into injury time. Sitting 3rd in the league, the Red Bulls (W17 D12 L3) have now drawn their previous five home games and could fail to finish in the top-four in case both Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach win their last two matches, with Leipzig earning no more than a point in their own two upcoming outings.
German forward Werner, who will play in the English Premier League for Chelsea next season, leads the Red Bulls with 26 markers. Goalie Peter Gulacsi, meanwhile, sits 8th in the Bundesliga with 87 saves. He has recorded 10 clean sheets in 31 outings this year and concedes a goal every 87 minutes on average. RB Leipzig has netted the 3rd highest quantity of goals this season (79) while taking the 2nd highest number of shots per game (16.3). The team is 4th in both ball possession (54.1%) and passing accuracy (82.4%).
Dortmund Lose To Mainz
A three-game winning streak came to an end for Borussia Dortmund, who unexpectedly dropped a 2-0 home decision against relegation-threatened Mainz at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday. After winning their previous two outings against Hertha Berlin and Fortuna Dusseldorf with just a minimal score of 1-0, the Black-and-Yellows failed to score at all for the second time in their previous five games, allowing a first-half header before the visitors netted their second from the penalty spot at the start of the following frame. With a W20 D6 L6 record, BVB still sits 2nd in the league, three points above 3rd-placed RB Leipzig.
With 17 markers and 16 assists in his pocket, English winger Jadon Sancho leads Dortmund in scoring. Goalie Roman Burki, meanwhile, has stopped 57 shots this year, sitting 18th in Bundesliga’s keeper chart. He has picked up 12 clean sheets in 29 games this season and allows a goal every 72 minutes of play. BVB have buried the 2nd highest amount of league snipes this year (82), while posting the 7th highest quantity of shots per game (13.3). The team is 3rd in both ball possession (58.7%) and in passing accuracy (86.8%).
Prediction
After confirming their place in the Champions League for the next season, Borussia Dortmund has taken their foot off the gas considerably. The team posted lackluster 1-0 wins against Hertha Berlin and Fortuna Dusseldorf before losing 2-0 to relegation-threatened Mainz during midweek. RB Leipzig, mind, has not performed much better lately. The team has gone unbeaten for an incredible 13 straight games but has managed to win just five of them, posting eight draws, including five in succession on own turf. A victory, as much as the Red Bulls currently need one to secure a top-four finish is unlikely against BVB, who have gone unbeaten versus RB Leipzig in their last four Bundesliga meetings (W2 D2).
Best bet:
Draw (+270)