RB Leipzig vs BK Hacken Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

RB Leipzig will be looking to bounce back from a mixed campaign, as they kick off the new season in the Europa League qualifiers. Their early start comes as a result of their failings last term, as they missed out on the top four on the final day of the Bundesliga campaign. They did enjoy a first run in Europe last season, making the Champions League group stage and then falling in to the knockout round of the Europa League. This season will be about progression for the German club, and they’ll be looking to make an impact in this competition.

Leipzig are heavy favourites to see off Swedish side Hacken here, with the away side struggling to secure a return to Europe. They sit 10th in the Allsvenskan as things stand, not too far above the drop zone. Playing in Europe must be a welcome break from domestic struggles, and they adapted to the switch well in their first round win over Liepaja of Latvia. However, a 2-1 home defeat in the second leg did spell trouble for the Swedes, ahead of a tough tie in the second qualifying round.

Leipzig are a tough side to meet at this stage, and we expect them to progress, despite losing Ralph Hasenhüttl in the summer. They progressed well under his watch for two years, as the Austrian established them in the Bundesliga. The German side will be getting one of the hottest properties in management from next summer, when Julian Nagelsmann takes charge. However, former boss Ralf Rangnick is in the hot-seat for this campaign, as he looks to succeed in his first Bundesliga post since 2011.

Leipzig have got form behind them coming in to the new season. They hit 10 goals in their final two Bundesliga games, while they won 7-0 in their first preseason clash. They’ll expect to see another high scoring game, with 71% of their matches here in the league last term seeing over 2.5 goals. They averaged two strikes per game, while they were involved in a few open ties in Europe, too.

Hacken come in to this as heavy outsiders, fresh from a 2-1 loss to Latvian opposition. They’ve been beaten 2-1 in their last three games, losing seven of 10 on the road. We expect an easy victory for the hosts, who should flex their muscles in attack. We’re backing a home win and over 2.5 goals in this one, while we’re backing a 3-1 win for the Bundesliga outfit on Thursday.