Edin Terzic ahead of Leipzig: "We want to overtake them in the table" | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund and Rasenballsport Leipzig are battling it out for fourth place in the Bundesliga. Both teams now go head-to-head on Saturday. Kick-off in Leipzig is scheduled for 15:30 CEST.

For weeks, the two teams have been locked in a race for fourth place, which translates into a confirmed place in next season's UEFA Champions League. While BVB were in the lead until the end of March, Leipzig overtook them on Matchday 28 on goal difference. After the draw against champions Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, Black & Yellows now trail their direct rivals from Saxony by two points. Leipzig are currently in fourth place with 59 points, while BVB are in fifth place with 57 points. "We still have some ground to make up in the Bundesliga. We want to improve our position in the table," said BVB coach Edin Terzic ahead of the game. Black & Yellows want to overtake Leipzig once more with a win, ideally with the in-form ex-Leipzig player Marcel Sabitzer on board.

The midfielder recently caught a cold and did not train with the team on Thursday, but is expected to be back on the training pitch with his colleagues on Friday. Terzic assumes that the midfielder will be fit for action. There is a bigger question mark over Donyell Malen, who has been out of sorts since the international break in March. After picking up a knock in the Netherlands' friendly against Germany, "he's still not feeling well. Now he's also got a cold, so he hasn't been able to complete his rehab. It's not looking good for the weekend,’ said Terzic.

The coach will still be without the long-term absentees Ramy Bensebaini and Sebastien Haller on Saturday, as well as the suspended Emre Can and Ian Maatsen (both five yellow cards). Felix Nmecha or Salih Özcan could replace the captain. "We'll wait for training today and then make a decision. Of course, both are candidates to step into the role," said Terzic, who is likely to count on Marius Wolf in one of the full-back positions. "Marius played from the start in Gladbach and had a good game. That's why we're very confident that he'll also do well tomorrow," said the BVB head coach.

Leipzig unbeaten in seven games

Leipzig have gone unbeaten in their last seven Bundesliga games, picking up 19 out of a possible 21 points in this timespan, more than any other team in the league. "Leipzig's quality is undisputed, they've been doing a good job for years," stressed Terzic. "They are an extremely pacey team, especially up front, and are always dangerous when they have space to run into."

BVB have learned this the hard way in recent years, losing five of their last six matches against the Saxons, including the fixture earlier in the season, when BVB lost 3-2 after losing Mats Hummels to a red card in the 15th minute. "But we were also able to generate a lot of pressure despite being outnumbered. We've shown that we can do much better against them than in recent games," said Terzic, who laid out his approach for the second meeting with them this season: “We have to be extremely brave and apply pressure all over the pitch in the same way we have done in recent games.” The head coach is counting on greater stability ("We have been able to reduce the number of goals conceded since January") as well as his team's strength on the road ("only one defeat, in Stuttgart").

Ahead of the clash with their direct rivals for fourth place, Terzic sees "enough reasons to be confident. With all due respect to Leipzig, we want to be the team that seizes the day and jumps up a place in the table."Christina Reinke

BVB-TV by 1&1: the press conference ahead of the game in Leipzig

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