Analyzing RB Leipzig’s Early Struggles Under Jesse Marsch: Tactical Breakdown
RB Leipzig’s start to the Bundesliga season has fallen short of expectations. Ahead of their meeting with FC Köln, Die Roten Bullen had managed just three points from their opening four matches, with a single convincing win over Stuttgart. For new head coach Jesse Marsch, this underwhelming return left Leipzig languishing in 13th place—a surprising position for a squad used to contending near the top. This tactical analysis explores the major issues affecting Marsch’s tenure so far and considers what needs to change to spark improvement.
Tactical Overhaul: Formation and Personnel Choices
Leipzig developed a strong tactical reputation under former coach Julian Nagelsmann, particularly for the team’s flexible use of back-three systems like 3-1-4-2 and 3-4-2-1, where wing-backs contributed significantly in attack and defense. Since Jesse Marsch’s arrival, the approach has shifted dramatically to a more rigid and straightforward 4-2-3-1. This alteration has brought key differences:
– Defenders remain deep and build play through longer passes, instead of engaging in dynamic wing play.
– Marsch has sidelined Angelino, who was crucial for delivering crosses and stretching opposition defenses. In his place stands Josko Gvardiol, a highly talented 19-year-old, whose primary strengths lie in 1-v-1 defense rather than attacking support.
– The squad suffered significant offseason departures as well, including Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer’s transfer to Bayern Munich and Hee-Chan Hwang’s move to Wolves. These exits, combined with Marsch’s personnel decisions, have left Leipzig less versatile and diminished in key areas.
The new formation forces Leipzig’s attack into narrower channels and limits the type of fluid, wide play that previously made them dangerous. Where Nagelsmann’s system activated both attacking midfielders and wing-backs down the flanks, Marsch’s setup has created congestion through the middle, making ball progression labored and predictable.
Leipzig’s Limiting Narrow Attacking Play
A central criticism of Leipzig’s approach this season is the cramped nature of their attacking phase. The four forward players routinely occupy central spaces and rely on quick, intricate passing sequences to slice through defensive blocks. Notably, Stuttgart are the only Bundesliga team attacking through the center more frequently than Leipzig. This method brings several problems:
– Opposition teams adept at keeping compact defensive shapes have easily limited Leipzig’s attacks, forcing turnovers and dampening attacking momentum.
– The sole match that showcased the effectiveness of this approach was against Stuttgart, whose frenetic attacking style left them exposed. Against more organized sides, Leipzig’s lack of width repeatedly led to failed attacks and quick counterattacks from the opposition.
– Defensive vulnerabilities have also increased—especially following the loss of fast, recovery-minded defenders like Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté. In high-profile matches, such as the defeat to Bayern Munich, counter-attacks exploited Leipzig’s high line, exposing them on the break.
Against FC Köln, Leipzig’s narrow attack left them reliant on defensive lapses from the opponent, and only Köln’s inability to capitalize kept Leipzig in the match.
Andre Silva’s Struggles to Adapt Up Front
Striker Andre Silva joined Leipzig following an excellent season at Eintracht Frankfurt and was expected to be a focal point for their offense. However, the team’s current style has not played to his strengths:
– Silva excels when provided with quality service from wide areas, making runs into space and finishing from crosses. With Leipzig playing almost exclusively through the middle, he is often left isolated among defenders.
– Defenses staying compact and narrow find it easier to contain Silva, especially since he frequently operates as a lone striker without close support.
– The absence of wide deliveries and overlaps—previously supplied by Angelino and the wing-backs—further limits Silva’s scoring opportunities.
On the rare occasions when Leipzig adopted a more direct approach and played with greater width, Silva looked more effective. Yet Marsch’s insistence on patient possession and slow build-up from the back means Silva’s involvement often remains peripheral.
How Leipzig Can Reverse Their Decline
A major challenge for Marsch has been striking the right tactical balance without abandoning the club’s identity. Key solutions for improving the current situation include:
– Returning to a back-three formation such as 3-1-4-2 or 3-4-2-1, which previously facilitated greater width and enabled two strikers to play in tandem. This would offer strike partner options for Silva—like Yussuf Poulsen or Dani Olmo—and reintroduce vital attacking width.
– Restoring Angelino to the starting lineup as a wing-back, maximizing his ability to deliver crosses and unbalance opposing defenses, while utilizing Gvardiol as a center-back instead of a makeshift full-back.
– Allowing midfielders such as Kevin Kampl to orchestrate play from deep and deploying Amadou Haidara further forward, increasing both ball progression and pressing energy in midfield zones.
Making these adjustments could help solve Leipzig’s attacking congestion and revive Silva’s productivity. Without meaningful change, the club risks a disappointing league campaign and a finish outside the Bundesliga’s top four—a scenario few would have predicted before the season.
Conclusion
Jesse Marsch’s time at RB Leipzig has started with more questions than answers. The move towards a static 4-2-3-1 has limited the side’s width, blunted their attack, and left key players struggling to excel. A swift tactical recalibration—prioritizing a return to systems that emphasize width, positional fluidity, and striking partnerships—may be necessary to unleash the full potential of the squad and realign with the high standards set in previous years.
