RB Leipzig v Aston Villa Pre-Match

[pauliewalnuts]

Leipzig have had a tough champions league draw, Atletico Madrid and Celtic away and Livetpool and Inter at home I think. Given this I think their zero points has some context, and this will be a tough game.

As well as Mings played against Brentford, I think Emery is more likely to trust him against Chris Wood in the Forest game than here. If Bailey is out, I think/hope it will be

Martinez
Konsa
Carlos
Torres
Digne
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
McGinn
Rogers

Do we do better with Konsa at RB and Carlos at CB, though? Statistically, I mean?

[RamboandBruno]

Paulie, your a funny guy

[brontebilly]

Bailey's out injured, so who will we play on the right hand side of the 3? Assuming we go 4-2-3-1.

Buendia - played there before his injury
Philogene - too erratic
McGinn - better in the middle
Maatsen - play him in front of Digne down the left and move Rogers across to the right.

Cash - would give us extra strength in defence and will bust a gut to get into the opponents box when counter - attacking. Just a thought.

Terrible each and every time Emery has tried it.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I find this difficult to call.
Leipzig consistently finish in the top 4 in the Bundesliga. However even though they didn't even exist when the Wall came down, I find it hard to get away from the idea that they are a vaguely obscure name from behind the Iron Curtain. The sort of side that will give you a bit of a game but English clubs will always overcome. 
It's the same as I think of Bournemouth and Brighton really being 3rd division, and Brentford as 4th division.

[VillaTim]

Leipzig have won the last 2 league games without conceding , the game before that they lost 1-5 at home . They seem jeckyl and Hyde I'd compare them to Brighton .

[Tayls_7]

They'll be no match for our solid consistency then.

[tomd2103]

Think we might need 2 wins from the last 3 to secure a top 8 spot, which would be great just for the additional break it will give at an important time of the season (though suspect a certain C. Heck wouldn't mind an additional couple of CL fixtures).

[VillaTim]

we cannot afford another Brugges type performance

[Smithy]

Think we might need 2 wins from the last 3 to secure a top 8 spot, which would be great just for the additional break it will give at an important time of the season (though suspect a certain C. Heck wouldn't mind an additional couple of CL fixtures).

I think I remember reading that you earn quite a bit more for qualifying for the knockouts via the top 8 than you for qualifying via a 9th-18th play-off.  So even with the extra gate receipts, if it's money you're interested in, then top 8 is where you need to be.

[VillaTim]

Could be massive for the club if we can finish top 8.
2 wins and a draw should be enough

[olaftab]

I find this difficult to call.
Leipzig consistently finish in the top 4 in the Bundesliga. However even though they didn't even exist when the Wall came down, I find it hard to get away from the idea that they are a vaguely obscure name from behind the Iron Curtain. The sort of side that will give you a bit of a game but English clubs will always overcome. 
It's the same as I think of Bournemouth and Brighton really being 3rd division, and Brentford as 4th division.

So a lot like Wolves?

[Nev]

Law of averages says they will pick up a point somewhere along the line so a draw is probably the most likely outcome. We've been better of late but still profligate where chances are concerned and you can't afford to miss opportunities as much as we do and hope to prevail.

It will be tight, and the pragmatist that Emery is tells me a stalemate is where it's at.

0-0

[Drummond]

They need a win, so surely will have to have a go at some point. That's when we can break and create chances.

We need a draw and we will want to be solid.

They've lost all 5 games but only have a goal difference of -6 so they aren't getting hammered and they've had tough draw.

Tricky game and a draw would be a good result I reckon.

1-2

[olaftab]

Leipzig have to win all 3 and that still won't be a good enough to make play offs as they will have poor goal difference. They are doing well in Bundesliga and need to secure 4th so I think they will go weak tomorrow.

[Drummond]

Leipzig have to win all 3 and that still won't be a good enough to make play offs as they will have poor goal difference. They are doing well in Bundesliga and need to secure 4th so I think they will go weak tomorrow.

They still have a chance, albeit slim, though. And that may be enough to motivate and to try and get in a groove.