Five months after suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig's captain David Raum believes his team has the potential to inflict damage on the league leaders.
Bayern made an emphatic statement at the season's outset with Harry Kane's second-half hat-trick, alongside braces from Michael Olise and a debut goal from Luis Diaz.
As the season approaches its midpoint, Bayern remains unbeaten and boasts the best record in Bundesliga history at this stage of a campaign.
Following a summer revamp, which marked the first under ‘Global Head of Football’ Jurgen Klopp, Leipzig’s coach Ole Werner along with several fresh recruits made their Bundesliga debuts against Bayern.
In discussions with AFP and other media representatives on Thursday, Raum acknowledged Bayern as “the best team in the world right now,” while expecting a “completely different game” upon their next meeting.
“They dominated us,” Raum conceded, but noted that the team has experienced positive changes, stating, “we have some new players and our style of play has evolved since the start of the season.
“Now, the coach has developed a better understanding of us and what we can achieve, while we are clearer on his expectations.”
As a member of the national squad, Raum maintains close ties with numerous Bayern players, a relationship he hopes to leverage competitively.
“Coming into the international camp was challenging after that first game. Taking six goals is tough, especially as it was my inaugural match as captain,” he recounted.
“Naturally, it sparks additional motivation. I wish them well in general, but this weekend, I hope they don't have their best performance.”
The 27-year-old mentioned that no messages had been shared regarding the match thus far, but hinted, “Perhaps tomorrow, I’ll start engaging in some psychological tactics.
“Hopefully, post-match, I’ll be able to stride confidently into the locker room to converse with them because we secured the points.”
Bayern have only faced defeat once this season out of 27 matches, whereas Leipzig ended a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Freiburg at home on Wednesday.
In other matches, Borussia Dortmund, currently in second place, will take on St Pauli on Saturday, while fourth-placed Stuttgart is set to face Union Berlin on Sunday.
A player to watch: Jamie Leweling from Stuttgart.
Stuttgart forward Jamie Leweling has begun 2026 in outstanding form, aiding the German Cup champions in ascending back into the top four.
Leweling has three goals and two assists in his last four outings, positioning himself as a strong contender for Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad.
Praise for Leweling came from fellow Stuttgart and Germany striker Deniz Undav after his two-goal contribution in a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday, stating, “He possesses speed, physicality, and indeed embodies all the qualities needed in a footballer.”
Despite links to a potential transfer to England in the winter, Leweling expressed a desire to remain in Stuttgart.
Undav, who previously played for Brighton, described Leweling as “an ideal player for the Premier League with the traits he has, and I hope he can elevate his game further.”
However, Undav humorously suggested that Leweling should not become overly confident, joking, “If you knew how poorly he’s been striking the ball lately, you wouldn’t believe it.”
Key statistics reveal that Bayern’s total of 47 points at the midpoint of the season equals the record for the Bundesliga, with an 11-point lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund, also a best-ever mark at this stage.
Bayern's goal tally of 65 at the season's halfway point stands as the record in league history.
Upcoming fixtures (scheduled for 1430 GMT unless specified):
Friday: Werder Bremen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (1930)
Saturday: Hoffenheim vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Cologne vs. Mainz, Hamburg vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach, Wolfsburg vs. Heidenheim, Borussia Dortmund vs. St Pauli, RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich (1730)
Sunday: Stuttgart vs. Union Berlin, Augsburg vs. Freiburg.
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