German Bundesliga - RB Leipzig vs. Hertha Berlin - Preview & Prediction
Refusing to give up on their chances to win the Bundesliga this season, 3rd-placed RB Leipzig is about to host 11th-placed Hertha Berlin, who has been rejuvenated since the arrival of their new manager. Kick-off - at 12:30 PM ET on Wednesday, May 27.
Leipzig Net Five Past Mainz
RB Leipzig finally ended a run of three consecutive draws after thrashing Mainz with a count of 5-0 away at Opel Arena on Sunday. Timo Werner put a stop to his personal eight-game goal drought by smashing in his third hat trick of the season, with Yussuf Poulsen heading home his second snipe in as many outings, and Marcel Sabitzer netting his ninth marker of the season, setting a new personal best. The Red Bulls have now broken their club-record of 66 goals (2016/17), finding the back of the net 68 times so far this year, currently sitting 3rd in the league (W15 D9 L3), trailing the 2nd-placed Borussia Dortmund and the 1st-placed Bayern Munich by three and seven points respectively.
With a career-best 24 strikes picked up so far this season, Werner leads RB Leipzig in scoring, currently trailing Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski by three snipes in the race for most goals buried in the league. Goalie Peter Gulacsi, meanwhile, is 10th in the Bundesliga with 70 saves in 26 starts, having also posted nine clean sheets along the way. He concedes a goal every 94 minutes on average. The Red Bulls are 3rd in most goals scored this year (68), 2nd in most shots taken (16.6 per game), and 4th in both ball possession (54.0%) and passing accuracy (82.6%).
Hertha Berlin Triumph In Derby
The resurgence of Hertha Berlin under new head coach Bruno Labbadia continued, as the Old Lady followed up the 3-0 road beat-down of Hoffenheim on May 16 with a 4-0 home victory against Union Berlin at Olympiastadion on Friday. Vedad Ibisevic collected a goal and two assists, with Dodi Lukebakio, Matheus Cunha, and Dedryck Boyata all also on the scoreboard, as the team buried all of its markers in the second half for the second game in a row. Hertha Berlin occupies the 11th place in the Bundesliga (W9 D7 L11), sitting just five points outside the top-six.
Lukebakio and Ibisevic top Hertha Berlin’s scoring table, having picked up six and five snipes so far this season respectively. Brazil U23 international Cunha, meanwhile, has banked four goals and an assist in six straight starts since joining the Old Lady from RB Leipzig in January. Goalie Rune Jarstein sits 3rd in the Bundesliga with 88 saves, having recorded seven clean sheets in 23 starts this year. He gives up a goal every 54 minutes of play. Hertha Berlin are 9th in most goals scored (39), 2nd from the bottom in most shots taken (11 per game), 13th in ball possession (47.1%) and 11th in passing accuracy (77.4%).
Prediction
RB Leipzig has picked up six victories in their last seven meetings with Hertha Berlin (W6 L1), who have lost their very last four contests against the Red Bulls with a combined score of 18-4. Leipzig has scored a total of 26 snipes versus the Old Lady - more than against any other team in the league, with this series averaging a goal every 19 minutes historically. Moreover, both teams have found the back of the net in 11 of Leipzig’s 13 home outings in the league this year, while Hertha Berlin has been scoring an average of three markers per game in their last four Bundesliga matches. Expect quite a few goals and the hosts to triumph here!
Best bets:
RB Leipzig to win (-275)
Both teams to score (-155)
Over 3.5 goals (-105)
Patrik Schick to score anytime (+130)
Matheus Cunha to score anytime (+310)
