RB Leipzig vs Tottenham Hotspur 11/03/20

11 March 2020

RB Leipzig will look to break into the UEFA Champions League (CL) quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history as they enjoy a 1-0 first-leg advantage over Tottenham Hotspur going into the return leg of their last-16 tie that takes place at the Red Bull Arena this week.

The hosts have successfully negotiated their way into the CL knockout stages, finishing top of Group G with a record of W3, D2, L1, with the lone defeat coming on home turf to Lyon on Matchday 2. Yet, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have been quite prolific in the attacking third this term, scoring over 1.5 goals in all but two of their seven European fixtures, with eight of their 11 CL goals scored so far coming in the second half of play. Unbeaten in six consecutive matches in all competitions ahead of the kick-off (W3, D3), the Bundesliga giants have managed five blank sheets across those outings, although scoring one goal or less in four. But, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have yet to keep a clean sheet at home in Europe this season, conceding over 1.5 goals in two of three CL games here.

Meanwhile, the visitors’ disappointing five-game winless run in all competitions has actually started with a 1-0 home loss to Leipzig, with each of their three defeats (90 minutes only) in that period yielding a single-goal margin. Indeed, since Jose Mourinho took charge of Spurs back in November, 20 of their competitive 25 matches since have ended separating the sides by under 1.5 goals. Another thing Mourinho has to be wary of is that the Londoners have conceded over 1.5 goals in two of their three CL trips this season and have managed just one clean sheet in their last 12 away matches overall. Still, the Premier League giants have been regular on scoresheet when away from home lately, scoring at least once in five of their six previous trips.