Leipzig look to maintain unbeaten start in Spain

• 5 reasons why Leipzig will beat Atleti
• How does the new-format Champions League work?
• Munich's Allianz Arena will host this season's final
• All European fixtures for Bundesliga teams in 2024/25 
• How do Xavi and Wirtz compare

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No longer Champions League upstarts, Leipzig are embarking on ther sixth consecutive campaign in the competition, and seventh in total. They start their 2024/25 adventure against the opponents they faced in their greatest tournament moment yet - a 2-1 quarter-final win in 2019/20. Never mind the past, though, Rose has enough reasons to be confident about the present, with Xavi, Openda and Benjamin Šeško developing a devastating attack that led Leipzig to a remarkable comeback win at long unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen prior to the September international break. New signing Antonio Nusa also looks ready to make an impact on the European stage if called upon, the Norwegian teenager having already scored off the bench in the Bundesliga and DFB Cup. Captain and defensive lynchpin Willi Orbán is back at head coach Marco Rose's disposal again, meanwhile, after a domestic suspension ruled him out of the goalless draw with Union Berlin on Matchday 3.

Like Leipzig, hosts Atlético are unbeaten so far this season. Diego Simeone's side won 3-0 at home to Valencia on Sunday to keep the pressure on Hansi Flick's Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Šeško's Slovenia international teammate Jan Oblak has helped them keep clean sheets in four of their five league assignments, though they have yet to face a team with the kind of firepower Leipzig possess. At the other end, a front two of Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez have the difficult task of trying to get through a steely Leipzig defence only breached in the embroynic Bundesliga campaign by Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen. Experienced defensive specialist Axel Witsel, who spent four years at Borussia Dortmund before joining Atléti in 2022, is expected to start on the bench.

Watch: RB Leipzig hitting the ground running

Match stats

• Leipzig beat Atléti in their only previous meeting, winning their one-legged 2019/20 Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon 2-1.
• Openda scored four Champions League goals for Leipzig last season, whilst averaging 4.7 shots on goal per 90 minutes. Only Lauro Martínez (5.8, Inter Milan) and Erling Haaland (5.0, Manchester City) fired off more attempts among players with at least 500 minutes of playing time under their belts.
• Xavi was also involved in four Champions League goals in 2023/24 (two of his own, plus two assists).
• Leipzig are playing their seventh season of Champions League football. Die Roten Bullen have reached the knockouts on four occasions.
• Of all teams to have played in at least 25 Champions League fixtures to date, Leipzig's matches have averaged more goals per game than any other club (3.52 - 162 in total).
• Atléti have lost five of their last eight Champions League games against German opposition (W1, D2), most recently falling to a 4-2 defeat in the second leg of their 2023/24 quater-final tie with Dortmund, after winning 2-1 at home.

Probable line-ups

Atlético: Oblak (c) - Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Azpilicueta, Lino - De Paul, Koke (c), Barrios - Griezmann, Alvarez
Out: Garcés (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Diego Simeone

Leipzig: Gulácsi (c) - Henrichs, Orbán, Castello, Raum - Haidara, Seiwald, Kampl, Xavi - Šeško, Openda
Out: Ouédraogo (knee), Schlager (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Marco Rose

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