RB Leipzig, once a force to be reckoned with in German football, have had a tough season so far.
They’ve faced some challenges, including tactical issues, a lack of cohesion within the squad, and the difficulty of replacing key players.
While the club has remained competitive, some challenges have occurred, leading to a slight decline in performance compared to previous seasons, as we will see in this analysis.
This tactical analysis examines the various factors contributing to RB Leipzig‘s struggles, including tactics, squad dynamics, and managerial decisions.
RB Leipzig Current Form
RB Leipzig’s season has been a bit up and down, especially when we look at their performances in losses across competitions.
Their results show that some deeper structural and tactical issues have made it difficult for them to maintain their momentum and achieve their ambitious goals.
They were beaten 2-1 by Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, which showed their defensive weaknesses.
The team struggled to keep up with Atlético’s intensity, particularly in midfield and made costly mistakes.
The losses to Liverpool (0-1) and Juventus (2-3) showed that the tactics still needed improvement.
Leipzig seemed to lack ideas to break down Liverpool’s well-organised defensive unit, while Juventus exploited gaps in their defence, highlighting the recurring issue of vulnerability during transitions.
Leipzig lost 1-2 to Borussia Dortmund, which showed they struggled to cope with the pressure in key moments against a top opponent.
The biggest loss of the season was a 1-5 thrashing at the hands of Wolfsburg.
This match showed many of Leipzig’s ongoing issues: poor defensive organisation, lack of midfield cohesion and an inability to respond effectively when they fell behind.
It was a disappointing result that showed the team was less solid at the back than in previous campaigns.
Despite these challenges, Leipzig have shown glimpses of their potential, including convincing wins over Augsburg (4-0) and Freiburg (3-1).
These results show that the team can perform well when their tactics match the quality of their players.
RB Leipzig Tactical Identity
Marco Rose‘s Leipzig play in a style typical of Red Bull: they press hard, make quick transitions and recover quickly.
However, this season, they’ve lost much of the intensity and efficiency they used to have in their pressing game.
Leipzig’s high defensive line, combined with an overcommitment of players in attack, has left them vulnerable during transitions.
Opponents have been able to exploit the spaces behind Leipzig’s midfield and defence, particularly on the flanks.
For example, when Leipzig presses high, their defensive structure often falls apart under pressure.
The full-backs, who are often expected to join the attack, leave gaps that are hard to cover when possession is lost.
Teams with fast and technical players have been quick to take advantage, countering with speed and precision.
Rose’s defensive shape isn’t as compact as it could be, which means they concede a lot of shots during counterattacks.
Leipzig still puts a lot of emphasis on possession, but their build-up play has become a bit predictable.
Not having key creative players like Dani Olmo, who brought flair and vision, has made their attacks less fluid.
One of the standout signings, Lois Openda, is quick as lightning and has a knack for finishing, but he really shines when he gets a through ball or is involved in a transition.
This means that Leipzig often has trouble breaking down tight defences.
They tend to rely on individual brilliance rather than on the whole team working together.
In addition, Leipzig has struggled to maintain attacking pressure in the final third, which has led to problems converting possession into goals.
Even though they’re in control of the ball, they often don’t make the right passes or get through to their forwards.
The team’s strategy of quick turnovers and counterattacks hasn’t been as effective against well-organised defences.
Marco Rose’s tactical flexibility is a great quality, but it can sometimes lead to confusion rather than clarity.
He’s tried to combine Leipzig’s usual high-pressure tactics with a more controlled, possession-based approach, with mixed results.
It looks like the team is trying to straddle two styles, but they’re not quite able to fully commit to either.
Rose has also tried out different formations, including a back three, to deal with defensive weaknesses.
While this setup offers more protection at the back, it has limited Leipzig’s attacking options, particularly in wide areas.
The team’s lack of consistency in formation and tactics has made it difficult to develop a clear identity, contributing to their struggles.
One of the biggest problems has been Leipzig’s lack of mental toughness under Marco Rose’s coaching style.
The team has a worrying tendency to crumble under pressure, particularly against top-tier opponents.
This fragility isn’t just a tactical issue; it’s also a psychological one.
Rose and his coaching staff need to work on this by building more confidence and composure in high-pressure situations.
RB Leipzig Squad Analysis
The departure of key players like Dani Olmo and Mohamed Simakan has left a big gap in both creativity and defensive solidity.
Olmo was more than just a playmaker.
He was also a leader on the pitch, controlling the pace of the game and connecting the midfield to the attack seamlessly.
Simakan, one of the best young defenders in Europe, brought a lot of energy and strength to Leipzig’s backline.
Without them, Leipzig has found it tough to get that balance between defence and attack back.
The new players, including Benjamin Sesko and Antonio Nusa, are clearly talented but haven’t had the same immediate impact as their predecessors.
For example, Nusa has shown glimpses of what he can do but hasn’t yet established himself as a consistent creative force in Leipzig’s midfield.
The injuries to key players like David Raum and Xavi Simons have made things even worse for Leipzig.
With Raum out of action, there’s a gap in leadership on the defensive side of things.
And we’ve really missed Xavi’s creativity and ability to unlock defences. It’s been clear that the team has lacked experienced leaders on the pitch, particularly during high-pressure moments.
Leipzig often seems to be adrift in these situations, unable to rally or adapt effectively.
The team’s lack of depth has also been highlighted. Leipzig has a great first XI, but the quality drops off significantly when players are rotated.
This has made it tricky for Marco Rose to establish a consistent tactical strategy, as injuries and fatigue mean he has to keep changing the line-up.
Statistical Insights & Potential Solutions
RB Leipzig’s poor stats show where they need to improve.
They’ve conceded more goals from counterattacks than any other team in the Bundesliga’s top half, which shows they struggle to keep a solid defence while pushing players forward.
In addition, they’re struggling to create chances: their expected goals per game are down on last season, showing a clear drop in quality.
On top of that, Leipzig’s trademark pressing has also let them down.
When we look at the number of passes per defensive action (PPDA), we can see that this efficiency has declined.
This suggests that they are struggling to disrupt their opponents during their build-up play.
To fix these problems, we need to make some changes to our tactics.
It’s important to focus on defensive compactness, especially during transitions.
Bringing in a holding midfielder to protect the back line would help to reduce the risk of being caught off guard during counterattacks.
On the offensive, Leipzig needs to establish clearer patterns of play in the final third.
They should also enhance off-the-ball movement and use the wide areas more effectively to stretch opposing defences.
It’s also essential to have a consistent formation.
Having a settled tactical setup will give the players clarity and help them understand their roles better, making the team more cohesive.
They also need to work on how they use the squad.
Integrating new signings like Sesko and Nusa more effectively is essential to help them reach their full potential.
These players need to know exactly what they’re meant to be doing on the team to maximise their abilities.
Building good relationships with the other players will also help with this.
It’ll be important to strengthen the squad with players who can cover different positions, especially in midfield and defence, to ensure we can maintain our performance levels throughout the long season.
It’s also important to develop leadership skills within the team.
Seasoned players like Orban and Kampl should be encouraged to step up and provide the team with the psychological strength to overcome challenges.
Leipzig’s path to improvement lies in a few key areas: getting their tactics just right, making better use of their players, and building mental resilience within the squad.
If the club can sort out these linked issues, it will be able to regain its competitiveness and climb back up the German football league system.
Conclusion
RB Leipzig’s current situation is the result of several different factors, including some poor tactical decisions, gaps in the squad, and challenges at a managerial level.
While losing key players has undoubtedly had an impact, the lack of cohesion in their tactical approach and the mental fragility displayed on the pitch are equally significant factors.
If Leipzig want to turn their season around, they need to address these issues as a whole.
Making some tactical adjustments, getting the new players up to speed, and focusing on mental resilience are all things that need to be done.
If Marco Rose can get his team to play in a way that reflects their talent and potential, Leipzig could well be back up there with the best of the Bundesliga.
In the fast-paced world of football, where fortunes can change rapidly, RB Leipzig still has time to make the necessary adjustments.
