Borussia Dortmund make a daunting visit to RB Leipzig on Saturday as the league giants clash in a pulsating Bundesliga encounter.
It's a pivotal game for BVB, who are only six points behind Bayern Munich and look to maintain pressure on the leaders ahead of the run-in.
Niko Kovac's side are on a six-game winning run in the league and 15 games unbeaten, the longest such active record in the German top-flight right now.
They cannot afford to drop points at this juncture into the campaign, especially with a lip-smacking showdown against Bayern coming up next weekend as the Der Kalssiker could potentially decide the course of the title.
Dortmund's nightmare run in Leipzig
Despite their recent achievements, Dortmund won't be taking anything for granted here. They have lost on their last five away games to Leipzig in all competitions, including three league visits.
In that run, BVB oversaw a pair of 2-0 defeats on either side of a 4-1 drubbing in April 2024, making for a really grim picture of their Leipzig travels. Moreover, Dortmund have lost seven times from their last 10 games to the Red Bulls in all competitions.
Red Bulls not at their ferocious selves
Having mentioned their glittering record in the fixture, it's also worth noting that Leipzig are currently struggling in the Bundesliga.
The Red Bulls have won just three of their last nine top-flight fixtures, an indicator of their rough patch right now as Ole Werner's side are in fifth place of the league table having played a game more than Bayer Leverkusen, who could leapfrog them by winning the match in hand.
Battle of two in-form African strikers
Dortmund will be riding on the red hot form of their Guinean star Serhou Guirassy again. The 29-year-old has netted in their last four official games, bagging a total of six goals to signal a return to form.
He will be hungry to add to his tally of 11 league goals and 16 in all competitions.
But Leipzig won't be intimidated, with the side boasting their own African talisman upfront in Yoane Diamonde. Just 19 years of age, the Ivorian has scripted a meteoric rise to prominence at the club this season.
The forward has bagged eight Bundesliga goals, the joint-most in the Leipzig squad along with Christopher Baumgartner, while also chipping in with another four assists.
Youth meets experience at the Red Bull Arena, and we're all up for it.