RB Leipzig: From the crisis to the Brazil tour – hope for an upswing!
RB Leipzig is about to make a PR trip to Brazil for a friendly against FC Santos. The results of the season raise questions about the future.
RB Leipzig: From the crisis to the Brazil tour – hope for an upswing!
RB Leipzig is facing a crucial moment in its history. The last game of the season is on Saturday against VfB Stuttgart. The club could record just 65 points this season, their worst record since gaining promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016 and miss out on European business. This development is particularly disappointing as expectations were high at the start of the season.
After a short period of just three days off, the team's training in Leipzig begins on Wednesday. On Friday, the team is scheduled to set off on a PR trip to São Paulo, Brazil. During this “Post Season Tour” a friendly match against FC Santos, to which Neymar belongs, will be played on May 28th. However, the exact broadcaster that will broadcast the game at 1 a.m. German time has not yet been determined.
The PR trip to Brazil
In Brazil, the team will not only complete the test match, but also hold two training sessions and attend numerous fan and PR appointments. These offers are intended to help strengthen the RB Leipzig brand internationally and increase its following overseas.
After returning from Brazil, sports director Marcel Schäfer will have to hold numerous discussions about the future of 16 players. Among these players are well-known club legends such as Yussuf Poulsen, Willi Orban, Peter Gulacsi, Kevin Kampl, Amadou Haidara and Lukas Klostermann. Her future at the club remains uncertain at the moment, which makes the entire situation at the club even more complicated.
A turbulent season
The Leipzig-born club, which was founded by Red Bull GmbH in 2009, has experienced some ups and downs in its history. As of the 2023–24 season, the team has played a total of eight seasons in the first division, supplemented by two in the second division and one in the third. This shows that RB Leipzig have shown impressive performances since their promotion before the current season threatens to become a stumbling block.
The last few seasons have brought both successes and challenges. Performances in recent years, such as reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2019-20 season, illustrate the club's willingness to compete. However, this season could be considered rock bottom if they fail to achieve the goal of qualifying for European competition.
RB Leipzig's entire record up to this point includes 506 games, 291 wins, 118 draws and 97 defeats, resulting in a goal difference of +463 and a total of 991 points. While last season ended on a positive note, the journey ahead is one of uncertainty as the future of key players and the club's overall strategy need to be reassessed.
The next few days could be crucial for RB Leipzig, not only in terms of the upcoming game against Stuttgart, but also in terms of setting the course for the coming season.
For more information on his history to date, see the list of RB Leipzig seasons here can be viewed while current developments in the club are up Picture can be tracked.