RB Leipzig vs Atalanta
RB Leipzig and Atalanta meet on Saturday in a tasty Club Friendly at the home of the Bundesliga big shots, and there will be two new faces in the dugouts at the Red Bull Arena.
The Germans have appointed 37-year-old technician Ole Werner to revive their fortunes as a replacement for the departed Marco Rose, while a new era is beginning in Bergamo following the departure of the legendary Gian Piero Gasperini, with former Southampton boss Ivan Juric taking the reins at Atalanta.
Werner began his senior coaching career at the age of 28 when he managed Holstein Kiel for two games as interim boss before returning to second-team duties, and he became the Kiel manager full-time in 2019, signing a three-year deal. But he left in 2021, and Werner took over at Werder Bremen, where he took from 10th place in Bundesliga 2 to promotion at the first attempt and stayed at the Weserstadion until this year when Red Bull came calling.
Juric is a more experienced manager and 12 years Werner’s senior. The former Croatian international knows the Italian top-flight inside out, having managed Genoa, Hellas Verona, Torino, and Roma with a brief, unsuccessful stint in the Premier League with the Saints.
A big year for RB Leipzig
With a seventh-place finish last term, Leipzig missed out on European football for the first time since they joined the Bundesliga elite back in 2016. That was quite a blow to the club’s hierarchy, who expect Champions League football at least, but it does give new man Werner a big chance to put in a strong performance in the domestic league and the DFB-Pokal. The Club Friendly 2025 betting odds say Red Bull will be back in the top four again next term, but they may have to do that without a couple of their stars.
22-year-old Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko is one of the most sought-after properties in world football following an impressive season in the Bundesliga, scoring 13 goals in 34 league games to make it 27 goals in two seasons in Leipzig. These aren’t prolific figures, but for such a young striker, they are certainly promising. A 6’5”, Sesko is a real unit and a formidable target man, but he is also good with both feet, and Red Bull have slapped a €80 million price tag on his head.
Premier League giants Newcastle United have been following the player as a potential replacement for their Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who is being courted by Liverpool. And another Premier League big spender is circling, with Chelsea keen to take Netherlands forward Xavi Simons from Leipzig to London.
Meanwhile, Leipzig have continued their policy of bringing in young talent to develop. The club has spent a combined €60 million on defencive midfielder Arthur Vermeeren from Atletico Madrid and two young wingers, Yan Diomande from Leganes and Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven.
Leipzig face Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga opener, and Werner will be under pressure from the off. But he has the backing of the board, some time, and a talented squad to work with.
How will Atalanta cope post-Gasperini?
Nine years with one manager is a rarity these days in the high-pressure, success-now demands of top-flight football. However, Gian Piero Gasperini was pretty much fireproof during his time at Atalanta. He transformed La Dea into one of the most attacking and successful sides in the Italian top-flight with many forays into Europe. He signed off with a third-place finish, and now Gasperini has headed off to rivals AS Roma.
New man Juric has had a chance to learn from his predecessor, playing under Gasperini at Crotone and Genoa, and he was part of his inner coaching circle at Inter Milan, as well as being his assistant at Palermo. But Juric hasn’t had his success in terms of silverware as yet, and comes into this job on the back of a poor campaign in Southampton.
As our recent SBOTOP article said, La Dea is in a period of upheaval, and the loss of 2025 Capocannoniere winner Mateo Retegui has been a huge blow. The Italian goal machine has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah for a fee of $76 million, making him the most expensive Italian player. He was only in Bergamo for one campaign, scoring 25 goals, and Retegui will be difficult to replace.
Atalanta will be keen to see their remaining best players stay if possible, though there is speculation surrounding Ademola Lookman in the Club Friendly 2025 news, with Inter Milan trying to get a deal for the former Fulham man.
Meanwhile, defender Odilon Kossounou has arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for €20 million, and Serbian midfielder Lazar Samardzic has been signed from Udinese for €15 million.
Like Werner, Juric is under pressure to make a fast start to the new campaign. But of the two managers, I think the Croat has the bigger challenge.
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