RB Leipzig’s poor start to the 2026/27 season faces its biggest test at Real Madrid on Wednesday, with another heavy defeat at the Bernabeu potentially bringing Martin Demichelis’ short tenure as manager to an end.

Leipzig have been strong at home but have suffered three defeats from three Bundesliga away matches, including a 6-1 humiliation by FC Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. They also lost 3-1 at Werder Bremen, 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen and 4-1 away to Como in the Champions League.

The club’s sporting board member Marcel Schafer has criticised the players’ attitude, saying they “had not even remotely fought back” during difficult away moments. Senior players David Raum and Nicolas Seiwald have also questioned the team’s lack of intensity and excessive passivity without the ball, which has left them second best in important individual battles.

Home strength, away collapse

Leipzig’s Bundesliga record at home and away shows a stark contrast.

In three home matches, they have won all three, scored 14 goals from 61 attempts and produced an expected goals figure of 11.51. They have created 13 big chances, converting seven, while conceding no goals. Their opponents have managed 42 shots, with an expected goals figure of 3.16.

Away from home, Leipzig have scored only twice from 41 attempts, with an expected goals figure of 3.04. They have created just one big chance and converted it, while conceding 11 goals from 59 shots faced, 29 of them against Bayern.

The team has therefore been much more aggressive in attack at the Red Bull Arena, while allowing opponents considerably more opportunities on its travels.

The central tactical concern is whether Demichelis’ aggressive 4-3-3 pressing structure can work away from home. Analysis suggests the issue is not simply a lack of intensity in the high press, but how that press is organised.

Leipzig’s PPDA (Passes per Defensive Action) stands at 12.7, ranking 11th in the Bundesliga for pressing intensity. That indicates opponents are finding it easier than the league average to play through Leipzig’s structure outside the defensive third.

The 30-year-old defender Lukas Klosterman and captain Raum have faced particular criticism following the Bayern defeat, when the Munich midfield covered almost seven kilometres more than Leipzig’s.

Diomande absence adds to pressure

Leipzig have also struggled to replace Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande, who they will face on Wednesday after his summer transfer for a club-record fee of €125 million.

Diomande scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 competitive matches last season. In the Bundesliga, his 12 goals and eight assists amounted to 0.76 Goals + assists per 90 minutes.

His influence extended beyond possession. He completed 716 sprints, won 437 tackles/duels and recorded non-penalty expected goals of 11.68, placing him in the 90th percentile among league players.

Without his 180 final-third touches, Leipzig have lost a direct attacking threat capable of counter-attacking quickly and retaining the ball under pressure. His ability to shape counter-pressing structures, reach 36.3 km/h and alter the tempo of close matches has proved impossible to replace with the current squad.

RB Leipzig visit Real Madrid at 21:00 CET.