Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
RB Leipzig enter this Champions League fixture with zero points from five rounds, making them one of the tournament's biggest shocks. Despite recent successes in the Bundesliga, the German side find themselves in a dire situation. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, who started the competition brilliantly, have slowed down and are now at risk of falling outside the top eight.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig have struggled massively in this Champions League campaign, recording five consecutive defeats. However, after a winless streak of six matches, the team managed to secure two clean-sheet victories recently. The attacking duo of Loïs Openda and Benjamin Šeško have been standout performers, collectively scoring 17 goals this season. Yet, they are plagued by injury issues, with key players like Xavi Simons and Yussuf Poulsen sidelined.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa had an excellent start, winning their first three matches, but then faltered with a loss to Club Brugge (0:1) and a draw against Juventus (0:0). Nonetheless, they have been defensively solid, conceding just once in five rounds. Despite experiencing a slump, winning only twice in their last ten games, Aston Villa have faced top competition in Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea. Against more evenly matched clubs, they have consistently picked up points.
RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa Prediction
The Birmingham side are likely to focus on containing Leipzig's attacks and will seek opportunities on the counter. Given Leipzig's poor form in the Champions League and Aston Villa's strong defensive capability, Aston Villa have a great chance of leaving the pitch unbeaten.
