Defence best form of attack for Leipzig

It is simple mathematics: if you don't concede a goal, you're gonna pick up at least a point. Leipzig have already racked up six clean sheets in just seven games this season - they only had 10 in the whole of the 2023/24 league campaign - including a club record-equalling five in a row in their last five top-flight outings.

They have conceded only twice all season with Union Berlin next-best with four across the division. And you can hardly criticise Leipzig for the goals they have shipped: they both came in a 3-2 win that ended champions Bayer Leverkusen's incredible unbeaten run on Matchday 2. 

Watch: Are RB Leipzig genuine title candidates?

The last line of defence is always going to be the most important, and Peter Gulácsi is currently the most reliable of all Bundesliga bulwarks. The Hungary international has proven all but unbeatable this term saving a league-high 93 percent of shots he has faced. Having not picked the ball out of his net for 495 Bundesliga minutes, he is just four minutes shy of the club record.

In front of him, fellow veteran Willi Orbán has been immense too. His first Bundesliga goal since May 2023 came in the 2-0 win over Mainz last time out, but it is at his day job that the Hungary international centre-back has excelled: he won 18 of his 20 duels against Mainz, and stands at a Bundesliga-best 72 percent of duels won for the season.

"You notice when he's missing," said coach Marco Rose. "He's quite simply our captain, and you can see that on the pitch."

Like leaders Bayern Munich, Leipzig are unbeaten, but while the record German champions have scored 24 times, Leipzig have struck on only 11 occasions, relying on their defensive qualities to make the most of those strikes.

There is a degree of consistency as Leipzig had the joint-second-best defensive record last season along with runners-up VfB Stuttgart as they came home fourth. But this term, they have tightened up still further thanks in part - according to Orbán - a quiet summer transfer window.

"We had no big upheavals, that of course helped us. There's understanding there, many players are on top form and we have a good goalkeeper too," explained the 31-year-old after the Matchday 7 win that leaves them behind Bayern only on goal difference coming into the Matchday 8 showdown with third-placed Freiburg.

"Everyone wants to keep a clean sheet and we throw ourselves on every ball. It's down to lots of things that defensively things are going so well right now. That's the basis for a successful football team."

Watch: Another clean sheet, another win for Leipzig on MD7

Stretching back to defeat at Bayern on 24 February, Rose's men are on an 18-game unbeaten streak in the league. Freiburg, who have - like Rose's men - made a club record start, will certainly test that ahead of a daunting trip to Dortmund that beckons on Matchday 9. 

"They're numbers that make you happy, but we have to keep going," warned Orbán. "The next run of fixtures is going to be very intense."