RB Leipzig are showing signs of recovery after a turbulent stretch, but the club's situation remains fragile. A 2-0 win at Schalke on October 31 moved them to fourth in the Bundesliga with 15 points from eight games, offering Martin Demichelis some breathing room after a punishing run that included a 1-6 thrashing by Bayern Munich and a 1-4 defeat at Real Madrid in the Champions League. Those results had placed the Argentine coach under real scrutiny, and the pressure has not fully lifted.

Off the pitch, squad cohesion is a growing concern. Winger Johan Bakayoko looks increasingly likely to leave in January, with Bild reporting that Leipzig would not stand in his way. The 23-year-old has played just 144 minutes this season, falling behind Brajan Gruda, Tidiam Gomis and Andrija Maksimovic in the pecking order, and has reportedly turned up late to club commitments on multiple occasions. Separately, transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has linked Leipzig to Juventus loanee Alen Licina, a 19-year-old German youth international currently playing in Serie B, as the club scouts potential winter reinforcements.

The next major test arrives on November 4, when Manchester City visit the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League. City have won four of the last five meetings between the sides, including a 7-0 rout in 2023. Leipzig will need to build on the Schalke result quickly.