Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig - Ralf Rangnick looks back on 'outstanding' year for Leipzig

Posted Tuesday, December 20, 2016 by PA

RB Leipzig's director of sport Ralf Rangnick says his club will be celebrating an outstanding year no matter how it concludes on Wednesday.

Leipzig head to Bayern Munich knowing a win in the Allianz Arena would see them end 2016 on top of the Bundesliga.

A draw would see them remain behind Bayern only on goal difference while defeat would see them fall just three points behind but still have at least a six-point advantage over the chasing pack - with one game to go to the midway stage of their first ever season in Germany's top flight.

"Sometimes I do have to nip myself to see if it really is all true," admitted Rangnick on kicker.de.

"This year has been outstanding - it could not have been any better.

"No matter what happens on Wednesday, this has been an outstanding year for everybody who has worked here."

Rangnick has therefore taken some of the pressure off his team ahead of the top-of-the-table clash, and coach Ralph Hasenhuttl is equally unconcerned about the outcome on Wednesday, preferring to tell his players to go out, enjoy themselves and give it their best shot.

"It's been an incredible, sensational season," he said at a press conference. "We are level with Bayern, we're 10 points ahead of Dortmund and 20 points more than teams who are still playing in the Champions League."

All the pressure will therefore be on Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern, who are expected to be at the top of the table, and their chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expects them to show who is boss on Wednesday.

"When you are used to playing against the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona, then you are also ready for when you play against Leipzig," he said.

All eyes will thus be trained on a David against Goliath clash which sees both antagonists start on an unusually level playing field, and a large global audience is expected to witness the highlight of the Bundesliga season so far.

"It's a fine way to end the year for the whole of German football and it would be a fine way to end it for us too - if we win," said Bayern's Thomas Muller.

Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm are both expected to return for Bayern, with Ancelotti reverting to a 4-2-3-1 formation after seeing the limitations of a 4-3-3 in the 1-0 win over Darmstadt at the weekend.

Naby Keita is Leipzig's biggest doubt due to a thigh strain and his involvement will be determined shortly before kick-off.