RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa: Predicted lineups, team news and key players

RB Leipzig and Aston Villa are gearing up for an exciting pre-season friendly at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Wednesday night. Both teams are eager to test their mettle and prepare for their upcoming Champions League campaigns.

Team news

RB Leipzig will be without midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who is recovering from knee surgery. Dani Olmo, fresh off an impressive Euro 2024 performance for Spain, has not yet returned to pre-season training and will also miss the match. However, Xavi Simons, who chose to remain with Leipzig despite interest from Bayern Munich, will be available. Rising star Benjamin Sesko is also expected to make an impact.

Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, are looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss to Columbus Crew. Key players John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Jacob Ramsey have returned to training. Goalkeeper Robin Olsen is expected to start, with Emiliano Martinez on holiday. New signings Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen are set to feature as they integrate into the squad.

RB Leipzig, a formidable force in German football since their promotion in the 2015-16 season, finished fourth in the Bundesliga last term with 65 points from 34 matches. They secured a spot in the Champions League, comfortably ahead of sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. The team is now setting its sights on challenging for the top spot in the Bundesliga, with their closest attempt being a second-place finish in the 2020-21 season.

Aston Villa, under the expert guidance of Unai Emery, had an impressive 2023-24 Premier League campaign, finishing fourth and securing a return to the Champions League for the first time in over four decades. Emery's leadership has breathed new life into the club, and they are now looking to build on their success with a strong pre-season.

Key players

Benjamin Sesko: The 21-year-old Slovenian international is expected to pose a significant threat to Aston Villa. Known for his prowess from set-pieces and long-distance shooting, Sesko will be looking to build on his 18 goals from last season.

Morgan Rogers: In fine form this pre-season, Rogers has scored in both friendlies. His ability to drive the ball forward and break down defences will be crucial for Villa.

Predicted lineups

RB Leipzig
Goalkeeper: Zingerie
Defenders: Klostermann, Orban, Lukeba, Henrichs
Midfielders: Elmas, Haidara, Seiwald, Simons
Forwards: Openda, Sesko

Aston Villa
Goalkeeper: Olsen
Defenders: Nedeljkovic, Feeney, Pau, Moreno
Midfielders: Barrenechea, Barkley, Iling-Jr
Forwards: Rogers, Archer, Bailey

Match details

The match is set to kick off at 1:00 am UK time at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, which has a capacity of 25,000. Aston Villa supporters can watch the game via VillaTV.

This pre-season friendly promises to be an intriguing clash between two ambitious sides preparing for the challenges of the Champions League.