Martín Demichelis demands his squad replicate their dominant home intensity to overcome defensive lapses and a mounting injury list against a formidable, possession-heavy Bayer Leverkusen side.
RB Leipzig are facing Bayer 04 Leverkusen today with one final opportunity to leave a positive impression before the international break.
For Martín Demichelis, the challenge is straightforward to describe but harder to deliver. Die Roten Bullen need to make their performances on the road look more like the ones they have produced at home.
Their recent results have underlined the difference. Leipzig conceded too easily in defeats to Werder Bremen and Como before responding with a 5-0 victory over Hamburger SV, keeping a clean sheet in the process. Demichelis believes the response was important, but the next step is to reproduce that level of performance away from the Red Bull Arena.
We need to play our away games with the same level of confidence that we have at the Red Bull Arena.
That message runs through Leipzig's preparation for Leverkusen. Demichelis wants his players to trust themselves regardless of the stadium, while also accepting that mistakes have to be addressed collectively and individually.
It's always about putting the same effort and conviction into every play.
Leverkusen will provide a demanding test. Demichelis acknowledged that it is always difficult to play there, but he does not want Leipzig approaching the fixture differently from any other Bundesliga match. His expectation is for the team to attack from the beginning, remain bold and compact, and create chances.
We need to bring the same level of focus to every game.
There is also an intriguing tactical meeting ahead. Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez comes from Spain, where possession-based football is highly valued, and Demichelis sees similarities between the ambitions of the two teams. For him, however, possession itself is only part of the equation. What Die Roten Bullen do with the ball, and how they behave without it, will matter more.
I'm confident that we will be capable of putting in a strong performance.
Leipzig will have to manage the game without several injured players. Rocco Reitz and Christoph Baumgartner are making progress and could begin parts of team training after the international break, although Demichelis does not want to put a precise return date on either player.
Marc Guiu and Assan Ouédraogo have also suffered injuries, leaving Leipzig with fewer options as they approach the final match before the 16-day break.
That could increase the importance of the players available in attack.
Tidiam Gomis has impressed Demichelis with his development and versatility, having played centrally against Gladbach despite being capable of operating anywhere across the attack. Rômulo, meanwhile, has been in good form and scored against Hamburg, strengthening his case for involvement at Leverkusen.
We'll have 11 players out on the pitch in Leverkusen as always.
That may be the simplest way to frame Leipzig's task. The injuries have changed their options, but not their expectation. Demichelis wants the same conviction, intensity, and focus on the road that his team has shown at home.
Leverkusen will test whether Leipzig can finally produce it.
