Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the DFB-Pokal match.
RB Leipzig's humiliating defeat to Wolfsburg on Saturday (1:5) nearly cost Marco Rose his job. He can redeem the situation with a win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the cup clash, but the opponents are in excellent form and capable of extending their rival's crisis.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig's problems have been evident from the start of the campaign, and they worsened after Xavi Simons' injury. Over 12 Bundesliga rounds, they have allowed 21.71 xGA, ranking them fifth from the bottom. In November, Leipzig lost five out of six matches, conceding 15 goals, with the only exception being a home draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach (0:0). Notably, due to injuries, Marco Rose is still unable to field El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, and Xavi Simons, and Castello Lukeba was injured against Wolfsburg. With such absences in every line, showcasing quality football is challenging.
Eintracht Frankfurt
In contrast, Eintracht have been nearly flawless, achieving seven consecutive victories since October 30. On Sunday, they demolished Heidenheim away (4:0), and Omar Marmoush, with his goal, is closing in on Harry Kane in the top scorer race (13+7 against 14+6). The Frankfurt side are second in the Bundesliga for xG (27.09) and are poised for new titles and a return to the Champions League.
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt Prediction
In 2024, Leipzig failed to defeat Eintracht in two matches (0:1 and 2:2). Eintracht are in good form and they will likely overcome Leipzig, or at the very least, avoid defeat in regular time.
