Can RB Leipzig claim an early DFB Pokal scalp against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, at 7.45pm on BT Sport 3?

Unlike Leicester – the side they were repeatedly compared across 2016/17 – RB Leipzig haven’t faded away after just one season at the top. They’ve managed to keep pace with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, and sit in 3rd, just one point behind the Bundesliga’s regular title contenders after winning 6, losing 2 and drawing 1. That’s a remarkable achievement considering this is only the club’s second ever(!!!) season in the German top flight.



Not that Leipzig have been without their wobbles. Their first 5 league games suggested they wouldn’t be able to repeat last season’s feat, with the club winning 2, losing 2 (including their opening match at Schalke) and drawing once. However, they’ve since won 4 Bundesliga games on the trot, including a vital 3-2 victory at league leaders Borussia Dortmund. They also had no troubles in the 1st round of the DFP Pokal, hammering Sportfreunde Dorfmerkingen 5-0.

As for Bayern Munich, a decent string of results masks what has been an incredibly turbulent start to the season. Despite 7 wins in the opening 10 games, Carlos Ancelotti was given the boot at the end of September, the day after Bayern were trounced 3-0 against PSG in the Champions League. (And that’s not to mention losing Manuel Neuer to long-term injury 10 days previous.)

Willy Sagnol was in place as interim manager for a 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin, before Jupp Heynckes took over full time on 9th October, marking his 4th stint in charge at Bayern. So far his latest tenure has been a success. Things kicked off with a cathartic 5-0 thumping of Freiburg, followed by a 3-0 win over Celtic in Europe and, on Saturday, a 1-0 victory in Hamburg.

Wednesday’s cup tie marks the start of a tricky run for Heynckes. Bayern actually play Leipzig again in the Bundesliga this Saturday, and then Borussia Dortmund the weekend after, a potential table-shifting double that has a trip to Celtic sandwiched in the middle.

While that makes this mid-week fixture arguably the most disposable, with Robert Lewandowski on 13 goals in all competitions the visitors are still expected to win, at a Bayern Munich/RB Leipzig (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.55-0.75 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.15-3.35.