Marco Rose – RB Leipzig – Tactical Analysis (2023-24)

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It seems as though every season since their arrival in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig have been tipped as one of the favourites for the title. They haven’t claimed higher than second since the 2020-21 season, but now in 2023-24 look ready to push for that second-place slot under the influence of Marco Rose. Here is our analysis of RB Leipzig in 2023-24.

SYSTEM OF PLAY: 4-2-2-2

Marco Rose’s team have set up in a classic Red Bull 4-2-2-2 since the start of the season. The formation prioritizes verticality and directness through the thirds in possession, whilst compacting central channels in defense.

But with the departures of Joško Gvardiol, Konrad Laimer, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig have undergone much in the way of change to start the campaign. Rose’s had to get his recruitment spot on, and immediately gel a host of new faces into the fold. On that front, it’s gone just about as well as they could have hoped for. Xaver Schlager’s seamlessly stolen away the place of Laimer (although he arrived in 2022), as the likes of Loïs Openda and Xavi Simons have stolen the show.

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At the back end of the pitch, Janis Blaswich has enjoyed a great start to the season in goal with a 77% save rate; although Péter Gulácsi could return to the side after a long spell out with injury. Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum have held the width nicely as the only two players sitting outside the genuine spine of the team, and have started all five Bundesliga games so far.

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Rose’s had more competition at centre-back, where Willi Orban has started to faze out of the team in place of younger players like Mohamed Simakan and Castello Lukeba. Simakan’s had a nice start to the campaign but continues to be rash with his decision-making and movement up the pitch, and we can expect Orban to continue as the main leader and organizer at the back as the season unfolds.

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In midfield, Kevin Kampl and Xaver Schlager have played every match, fighting off stern competition from Amadou Haidara and Nicolas Seiwald. Ahead of them is where the true magic happens, as the front-four quartet interchange around the pitch. Xavi Simons has led the way as the main source of goals and creativity, but Dani Olmo has also been absolutely on fire whenever selected. The two men have formed a nice relationship with the clever movement and finishing of Loïs Openda, who is most often partnered with more of a natural ‘Target’ to bounce off like Yussuf Poulsen or Benjamin Sesko. As if that’s not enough, Emil Forsberg and Timo Werner could enter the frame at any point to add further flame to the fire.

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So although this is a team in transition more than any other season since their arrival to the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig continue to boast one of the most impressive teams in the league, playing a style of football that perfectly caters to the players they’ve recruited.

ATTACKING PRINCIPLES

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RB Leipzig prefer to attack quickly up the pitch, with a somewhat direct approach in finding their front-four. They will build out from the back nicely and work the ball through the thirds, but they won’t ever shy away from playing longer passes more directly into the front-line.

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At the start of their attacks, you will often see a diamond build forming between Janis Blaswich in goal, the two centre-backs, and one of either Xaver Schlager or Kevin Kampl.

That central midfielder will frequently drop into the back-line as a back-three, but they can also stay high together when Blaswich comes out of his goal. This gives the shape something of a 2-4-4 look, although the attacking midfielders will drop toward the ball to receive shorter passes (more so 2-4-2-2).

Evidently, the proximity of the attacking midfielders toward the forwards can serve as an automatism for quicker passes into the front-line (thus allowing for ease of access on knock-downs). But as they drift toward the ball to receive in the half-spaces and wide of central compactions, Leipzig become less likely to go long.

In working the ball through the centre (and half-spaces), they have prioritized working the ball into Xavi Simons – who is exceptional at driving forward on the ball. Difficult to catch when in full flow, Simons often attracts the pressure of two-three defenders before releasing to an open man in space.

After breaking free, he’ll look to play through-passes in behind the opposition’s defense, as the strikers stay onside and look to burst into space.

As the forwards then drift apart to receive in the penalty area, you will often see the opposite wing-back gallop forward to get on the end of crosses. Poulsen has always been adept at holding up the ball and playing the role of a provider, whilst David Raum is excellent at perceiving spaces to attack inside the penalty area.

More often, Raum himself will be the one to deliver from wide (or set-pieces), putting his left-foot to good use in delivering danger into the penalty area. But if Die Roten Bullen find themselves struggling to break through an opposition’s press, they don’t just panic and go long. One of the major advantages of the Leipzig team is that they have some of the best carriers on the planet, including Willi Orban and Kevin Kampl, who keep the ball glued to their feet.

Willi Orban ranks third in the league for both of Wyscout’s progression categories (runs and passes) by distance covered, despite playing two fewer matches than many of his close competitors. Whenever deployed, he is often the key player in progressing the ball out from the back and dictating the tempo.

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But as the ball is worked higher up the pitch, all the attention has been turning toward the brilliant Xavi Simons, who’s notched 3 goals and 4 assists in his first 5 Bundesliga appearances. With 3 goal contributions in 3 games, Dani Olmo’s been absolutely magical too, and could be in for his biggest season yet at the club.

Since this is RB Leipzig, it’s also worth noting that many of their goals have been scored in transitional moments, where they attack with speed and fervidity every chance they get on the break, working the ball quickly between that front four. 14 goals in 5 matches is a great start to the campaign for Die Roten Bullen, and one that they can continue to build upon as relationships develop.

DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

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We’ve become used to seeing Leipzig flourish in attack since the early days of their Bundesliga arrival, but they’ve also enjoyed a great start to the season on the defensive end. Rose’s men have conceded just 4 goals this season, bested only by Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3.

Much of that starts from the front end of the pitch, where RB Leipzig will set-up in a 4-2-4 to 4-2-2-2 shape. As the ball goes backward one striker might step up to give it a temporary 4-2-3-1 feel. But the front-four usually try and stay closely connected in compacting central channels and forcing the play out wide.

The central midfielders will also step to join them and continue compacting the depth, but that can create a bit of a separation away from the back-line in early builds. If teams can then lump the play long and knock it down, spaces will be available to exploit in between those gaps.

Leipzig don’t boast the most imposing physicality or aerial presence, but they have been toward the top on aerial win rate (third – 55%), with the likes of Orban and Raum handling their battles well. That means long-passes and crosses into the box won’t often pay off for the opposition, even if they help to generate some of the best chances Die Roten Bullen have to contend.

The one other major hole happens when Mohamed Simakan steps out of his shell and disconnects himself from the back-line. Simakan is an incredibly proactive defender, and that can result in a nice number of defensive actions. But sometimes that can also mean he’s running around and focused solely on the player with the ball, rather than all of the other events happening around him – such as spaces in behind, the proximity of his teammates to the ball, or the gap created with his defensive partner.

Luckily he’s often partnered with Willi Orban, who never seems to mistime a tackle, and exudes confidence and composure to every defensive encounter. But as the fullbacks gallop up the pitch in attack, a 2+2 rest-defense isn’t always enough to help Die Roten Bullen defend quick transitions. Rather than remaining patient, this is where Simakan will often want to take matters into his own hand, even when the midfield should be the first line of defense.

With the Bundesliga being a high-transition league, this is something that Leipzig have to keep in mind, ensuring the spaces in behind are properly covered as he steps up to defend. Otherwise we may continue to see Leipzig concede chances from wide attacks into the penalty area, where Janis Blaswich has needed to come up with some big saves to start the campaign.

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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

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RB Leipzig might not go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title this season, but they have every chance of contending for second place alongside the likes of Dortmund and Leverkusen. Their recruitment over the summer has proven to be spot on, with the central compactions across the pitch aiding their approach of quick attacking transitions and high-pressing from the front. Conceding just 4 goals in 5 matches, Leipzig have been much more than just a brilliant side to watch in attack, but a much improved side in defense to start the campaign.

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