Newmains are supporting New Mainz in the Bundesliga. Our Stats Man Kevin Craigens takes a look at this afternoon,s opponents RB Leipzig.
LEIPZIG collapsed after the Reunification of Germany but years of struggle and work has seen the city rise to the top.
A polluting heavy industry paired with severe unemployment had left the Saxony city as an unattractive place to be based.
But since 2000 the city has gone through an incredible transformation.
Now described as the “most liveable city in Germany” by GfK marketing research institution, it has the one of the best future prospects of all areas in the country.
Leipzig really has lived a Cinderella story.
Its football club’s rise has been much more rapid.
RB Leipzig were formed in 2009 after Red Bull bought fifth-tier SSV Markranstädt with the aim of making the Bundesliga within ten years.
They did that with time to spare and now sit fourth in the Bundesliga.
Since their debut in UEFA competition in 2017, Die Roten Bullen have appeared in continental football ever since.
They reached the quarter-final of the Europa League in their first season – and booked their place in the Champions League last eight when they defeated Tottenham before the coronavirus lockdown.
The last time Mainz met the Red Bulls they were thrashed 8-0 after trailing by five at the break.
Leipzig striker Timo Werner scored a hat-trick that day and the German international is currently second in the Bundesliga scoring charts with 21 goals, five behind Bayern Munich’s Polish target man Robert Lewandowski.
