RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups - 17 January 2026
One of the marquee fixtures of the 18th round of the German championship will take place on Saturday at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, where the local RB Leipzig will host Bayern Munich. I'm tipping a bet on goals in this clash, with a strong chance of success.
Match preview
Ole Werner's men started the season with a humiliating 0-6 defeat to Bayern, but soon regrouped and delivered a solid first half of the campaign. The team established themselves among the top three, but have dropped points in four of their last seven matches, including a home loss to Bayer that ended their flawless run at the Red Bull Arena.
The Bulls' squad is now close to full strength, and with Jan Diomande back after the Africa Cup of Nations, he is likely to start from the opening whistle. Leipzig are one of the best home teams this season and could spring a surprise on the leaders on their own turf. Their form has been inconsistent, but the motivation to get revenge for that first-round thrashing is sky-high.
Bayern delivered the best first half of a Bundesliga season in history, racking up a record points tally and setting a new scoring benchmark. Vincent Kompany's side keep churning out wins - 8-1 against Wolfsburg, 3-1 over Köln - but defensive lapses, especially in transition, are becoming more frequent.
The squad situation is deteriorating: Laimer, Stanisic, and Boey are sidelined, leaving the right flank of defense a headache for the coaching staff. Rafa Guerreiro will likely be fielded out of position. Despite their attacking firepower, there are plenty of issues at the back, and Leipzig know how to exploit them. That makes this trip to Saxony particularly worrisome, especially given the head-to-head stats at this stadium.
Probable lineups
- RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Raum, Lukeba, Orban, Baku, Baumgartner, Seiwald, Ouédraogo, Diomande, Cardoso, Gomis
- Bayern Munich: Neuer, Guerreiro, Upamecano, Tah, Ito, Pavlovic, Bishof, Olise, Karl, Díaz, Kane
Match facts and head-to-head
- Bayern have not won in Leipzig for more than three years.
- In their last five away matches at RB Leipzig, Bayern have conceded 10 goals.
- Seven of the last ten encounters between these teams have seen over three goals scored.
Prediction
Despite Bayern's impressive first-half stats, defensive frailties and injuries - especially on the flanks—remain an issue for the Munich side. Leipzig are strong at home and desperate to avenge the rout in Munich. Expect a high-scoring, end-to-end affair with goals at both ends and no clear winner.
