Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

It’s a clash of cultures on Wednesday night. | Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images (Real Madrid), Kristian Skeie/UEFA/Getty Images (RB Leipzig)Yan Diomande’s early reunion with his old RB Leipzig teammates is the big headline ahead of Real Madrid’s third Champions League match this season.

Yan Diomande’s early reunion with his old RB Leipzig teammates is the big headline ahead of Real Madrid’s third Champions League match this season.

The 19-year-old got the Bernabéu to believe the hype on Sunday with his first real standout performance since his record-breaking arrival this summer, grabbing a stunning goal and assist in the 4–1 win over Sevilla.

The 19-year-old got the Bernabéu to believe the hype on Sunday with his first real standout performance since his record-breaking arrival this summer, grabbing a stunning goal and assist in the 4–1 win over Sevilla.

Expectations have gone up a notch for Diomande, who now prepares to face the club where he made his name last season. He could be joined in attack by Vinícius Júnior—another of the major talking points lately, with the Brazilian available to feature in the Champions League despite a four-game domestic ban.

Expectations have gone up a notch for Diomande, who now prepares to face the club where he made his name last season. He could be joined in attack by Vinícius Júnior—another of the major talking points lately, with the Brazilian available to feature in the Champions League despite a four-game domestic ban.

Madrid can make it three European wins in a row with a victory over Leipzig, but fans may hope for less of an edge-of-your-seat affair than the—admittedly thrilling—4–3 against Roma last time out.

Madrid can make it three European wins in a row with a victory over Leipzig, but fans may hope for less of an edge-of-your-seat affair than the—admittedly thrilling—4–3 against Roma last time out.

A goal-heavy night could well be on the cards again one way or another; Leipzig shipped four away to Como in their Champions League opener and were thrashed by Bayern Munich at the weekend. They have also won by three or more goals on three occasions already in 2026–27.

A goal-heavy night could well be on the cards again one way or another; Leipzig shipped four away to Como in their Champions League opener and were thrashed by Bayern Munich at the weekend. They have also won by three or more goals on three occasions already in 2026–27.

Yan Diomande faces his former club. | M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty ImagesThis encounter comes four days before the first Clásico of the season and, quite possibly, the match that will decide if Real Madrid are title contenders. You could forgive José Mourinho for having half a mind elsewhere.

This encounter comes four days before the first Clásico of the season and, quite possibly, the match that will decide if Real Madrid are title contenders. You could forgive José Mourinho for having half a mind elsewhere.

In Leipzig, his Madrid side face a team of contrasts. One capable of brushing aside the likes of Frankfurt (6–0) and Hamburg (5–0) while also suffering heavy defeats to Bayern (6–1) and Como (4–1).

In Leipzig, his Madrid side face a team of contrasts. One capable of brushing aside the likes of Frankfurt (6–0) and Hamburg (5–0) while also suffering heavy defeats to Bayern (6–1) and Como (4–1).

Madrid cannot afford to sleepwalk this one and Martín Demichelis’s side are undoubtedly dangerous. However, their open, attack-first style has seen them come undone time after time on the road and Madrid’s superstar frontline will get plenty of chances.

Madrid cannot afford to sleepwalk this one and Martín Demichelis’s side are undoubtedly dangerous. However, their open, attack-first style has seen them come undone time after time on the road and Madrid’s superstar frontline will get plenty of chances.

Madrid’s availability is as good as it has been all season, with only long-term absentees Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio set to miss this one.

Madrid’s availability is as good as it has been all season, with only long-term absentees Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio set to miss this one.

Diomande could face his old teammates from the right side of Madrid’s attack, rather than the left—as he did against Sevilla at the weekend—with Vinícius Jr an option for Mourinho again.

Diomande could face his old teammates from the right side of Madrid’s attack, rather than the left—as he did against Sevilla at the weekend—with Vinícius Jr an option for Mourinho again.

The main consideration for the manager will be making sure his team ends the night without any knocks or overly depleted batteries with the trip to Barcelona now so close.

The main consideration for the manager will be making sure his team ends the night without any knocks or overly depleted batteries with the trip to Barcelona now so close.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinícius Jr; Mbappé.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinícius Jr; Mbappé.

Marc Guiu and Assan Ouédraogo are set to miss out with injury. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner missed the weekend’s defeat to Bayern and is a doubt to start for Wednesday.

Marc Guiu and Assan Ouédraogo are set to miss out with injury. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner missed the weekend’s defeat to Bayern and is a doubt to start for Wednesday.

Brazilian striker Rômulo should return to lead the attack after being benched for the weekend. Top scorer Christopher Nkunku may move to a deeper role as a result.

Brazilian striker Rômulo should return to lead the attack after being benched for the weekend. Top scorer Christopher Nkunku may move to a deeper role as a result.

Norway international Antonio Nusa and on-loan star Brajan Gruda provide danger from out wide and will likely look to exploit space on the break behind Madrid’s own attacking wingers.

Norway international Antonio Nusa and on-loan star Brajan Gruda provide danger from out wide and will likely look to exploit space on the break behind Madrid’s own attacking wingers.

RB Leipzig predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Vandervoordt; Baku, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum; Banzuzi, El Aynaoui; Nusa, Nkunku, Gruda; Rômulo.

RB Leipzig predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Vandervoordt; Baku, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum; Banzuzi, El Aynaoui; Nusa, Nkunku, Gruda; Rômulo.

Published 2 minutes ago | Modified 2 minutes agoANDREW HEADSPEATHAndy Headspeath is a Real Madrid correspondent for Sports Illustrated FC. Originally from the UK, the weather, culture and soccer lured him to Spain over a decade ago where he lives with his wife, son and two untrainable dogs. A player of unspeakably limited talents and only one fully functional knee, he has more than a decade's experience in a wide variety of editorial roles within sports media, from match reporting to in-depth feature writing and interviews. He specializes in soccer history and culture, as well as—of course—La Liga.