The UEFA Champions League group stage is at the finish line as on Wednesday, we shall see the last 8 matches across Europe. In this preview, we will take a closer look at the match that will take place in Germany between RB Leipzig and Besiktas. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
RB Leipzig – Besiktas
Three-Way: 1. RB Leipzig -256; X: +520 Draw; 2: Besiktas +1000
Spread -1.5: RB Leipzig -108; Besiktas +102
Total +3: Over +100; Under +104
RB LEIPZIG
The biggest surprise of the last Bundesliga season, RB Leipzig is on the verge of another remarkable result – qualification to the last 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League. For that achievement they will need to win more points than Porto in the last matches of the group G. As it stands now, Besiktas is on the top of the group with 11 points followed by FC Porto and RB Leipzig who are tied with 7 points. If the Portuguese and German teams finish with the same amount of points, Porto will go through the next stage, as they have the better H2H record against RB Leipzig. Porto is hosting Monaco who is at the bottom of the table with 2 points, which only further complicates this group. RB Leipzig hopes that a win against the Turkish side will be enough and will not think otherwise. However, the German team secured the spring in Europe as they will finish the group at least at the 3rd position and will play UEFA Europa League last 32 stage if they don’t reach their main target on Wednesday night.
RB Leipzig is in some hot-cold form over their last 12 games. Firstly, they were on a streak of 4 wins, then they lost 3 consecutive matches, followed by 4 unbeaten encounters until the last Saturday when they were hammered by Hoffenheim 4:0 away from home. So, basically, we can expect anything from RB Leipzig this Wednesday. Right now, they are sitting on the second place of the German Bundesliga behind the reigning Champions, Bayern Munich. Statistically, they are playing yet another fine season with a record of W11 D3 L7 in a total of 21 matches played so far in all competitions with a goal difference of 37-29 what is an average of 3.1 goals per contest. At the home soil, it is a quite remarkable record with 6 wins and 3 draws without a defeat, at least not in regular time as they have lost one match against Bayern after penalty shoot-outs in the German cup. They have scored 18 and allowed 9 pieces playing at home what makes exact 3 goals on average per contest.
Their young star Timo Werner has already scored 11 goals (including 3 in Europe) and added 2 dishes in all competitions. Augustin, Poulsen, Sabitzer, and Forsberg are all tied on scoring charts with 4 pieces each, while Sabitzer is the leader when it comes to assisting for a goal with 5 dishes, followed by Poulsen with 4 assists. Ralph Hasenhüttl actually has a couple of problems for the following encounter as Sabitzer is sidelined with a shoulder injury while Emil Forsberg will also probably miss the decisive match in the Europe for his team.
BESIKTAS
Besiktas is coming to Leipzig with a lasting undefeated streak of 11 matches in all competitions. During that process, they have recorded 5 wins and 6 draws. Their 2:0 win in the 2nd round of the group stage of UEFA Champions League against their next rival was the only time when those 2 teams have met. In the Turkish league, they are in 4th position with 4 points behind the leader Basaksehir and are just coming from a great 3:0 win in the derby against arch-rivals Galatasaray. Surely they are not coming to Leipzig to hand the Germans 3 points without a fight.
In a total of 21 games played this season, Besiktas has won on 11 occasions, recorded 7 draws and suffered 3 defeats scoring 41 and conceding 28 goals in the process what makes an average of 3.28 goals per contest. In the UEFA Champions League campaign, they have appeared to be a very tough opponent for everybody in group G with the record of W3 D2 L0 and a goal difference of 9-4. It is good to have in mind that they have won both away matches before visiting the Red Bull Arena.
Attacking pair of Cenk Tosun and Alvaro Negredo seems to be very productive scoring 17 goals combined from which 11 go to Tosun and 6 to the Spanish striker. The experienced left winger added another 6 pieces just as many as the young Brazilian midfielder Talisca. Another experienced winger, Ricardo Quaresma is the leader in collected assists with 6 dishes. Just behind him is Caner Erkin with 5 assists so far in the season. Veli Kavlak and Atinc Nukan are on the long-term injuries and will not really be missed as they are out for several months now.
RB Leipzig – Besiktas – Match Prediction
Bookies say that RB Leipzig is the big favorite for this one and it probably makes sense as the visitors will probably make some changes to their tired team and will not go with full throttle, as opposed to the Germans. Sure, I wouldn’t be surprised if I see the hosts win, but I still expect the visitors to score at least a goal. Go with both teams to score.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+100)
