RB Leipzig welcome Manchester City to the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, looking to claim another notable scalp in the UEFA Champions League. Despite their opponents' formidable reputation, Martín Demichelis' side have plenty of reasons to believe they can come out on top.

Home fortress

Leipzig have been virtually unstoppable at the Red Bull Arena, winning nine consecutive Bundesliga home matches – a club record. Their four league victories on home soil this season have produced a remarkable 18 goals without reply, while they also overcame PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the Champions League.

Following the 4-0 victory over Elversberg on Matchday 7, managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer praised the team's composure and clinical edge in front of goal: "We couldn't find the gaps initially, but we worked our way into the game, stayed patient and then took our chances ruthlessly."

Nkunku and Nusa

Christopher Nkunku and Antonio Nusa have emerged as two of the Bundesliga's most dangerous attacking players this season. Nkunku has registered four goals and an assist, including a first-half hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 5, while Nusa boasts four goals and a joint league-leading six assists following another magnificent performance against Schalke at the weekend.

Demichelis has even described the Norwegian as "one of the best wingers in Europe right now".

Nkunku also has previous against City, having scored a memorable Champions League hat-trick against them in September 2021. The Frenchman's movement and finishing, combined with Nusa's pace and creativity, could spell trouble for the visitors.

City's defensive cracks

City's attacking prowess is beyond question, but recent results suggest they can be vulnerable at the back. Enzo Maresca's side conceded four goals in a Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, two in a Premier League loss at Aston Villa and another two at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup last Wednesday.

In fact, City have conceded 12 goals across their last six competitive matches. Leipzig's free-scoring attackers will fancy their chances of adding to that tally, particularly with home advantage on their side.

Former Leipzig defender Joskvo Gvardiol is a key part of Manchester City’s defence, but the visitors’ rearguard has been anything but watertight recently. - IMAGO

Demichelis' high-intensity approach

Leipzig's aggressive pressing and direct attacking play could be particularly effective against a City side that has occasionally struggled under pressure.

"We wanted to play forward quickly and directly," Demichelis explained following the 6-0 triumph over Frankfurt, praising his players for their aggression out of possession.

Leipzig scored twice inside the opening five minutes that evening, demonstrating their ability to overwhelm opponents from the outset. A similarly energetic start against City could put the English side on the back foot.

European pedigree on home soil

Leipzig have already shown they can compete with European heavyweights at the Red Bull Arena. Their 1-0 win over reigning Dutch champions PSV was secured by Brajan Gruda's late strike, while goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt made a crucial penalty save.

Demichelis was full of praise for the Belgian afterwards, describing his performance as “outstanding”.

There is also the small matter of Leipzig's previous encounters with City. They beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-1 at home in December 2021 and held the eventual Champions League winners to a 1-1 draw in February 2023.

The circumstances are different now, of course, but on their day Leipzig are more than capable of giving City a run for their money.