Champions League: Who replaces Timo Werner for RB Leipzig's clash with Atletico Madrid?
RB Leipzig have achieved the significant milestone of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals stage.
The Bundesliga outfit have continued to go from strength-to-strength and their second campaign in Europe has been far more successful than their first. That came in 2017/18 and they crashed out in the group stage.
Julian Nagelsmann is seeking to take this talented squad to the next level and his record at Hoffenheim, and indeed Leipzig, suggests that he is ready to do just that.
Leipzig will be without Timo Werner for the meeting with Atletico. Their top goalscorer made the summer switch to Chelsea and will therefore play no further part in the German club's European adventure.
It's left them with a dilemma of how they replace him in the short-term. The transfer window will bring a replacement but Nagelsmann will have to source someone to fill the space from his previous Champions League squad.
Werner's departure could be the start of an overhaul of the forward positions for this team based on attacking football. Patrik Schick, who has spent the season on-loan, is set to return to Roma following the conclusion of Leipzig's Champions League campaign according to Bild. That is a blow considering the ten goals scored from a limited number of 90-minute appearances in domestic competitions.
Schick should be involved from the off against Atletico given the limited choices available to Nagelsmann in that area of the pitch. The midfield will be key to the support he receives, they can't expect an exact replica of Werner in the forward positions.
Werner had the licence to drift out to his preferred left side in attack; picking up the ball out wide before driving at the opposition defence. That was probably the biggest change in him under Nagelsmann's guidance and that is what will be needed if we are to see the best of him at Chelsea. Freedom.
The majority of the focus will be on his record in front of goal, a natural go-to figure for any striker, but his presence in the forward positions puts him among the best, and arguably most versatile, strikers in the European market. 34 goals came from a central player who would be as comfortable, and likely as prolific, in a wide left position.
This is perhaps the biggest dilemma facing Leipzig in their clash with Atletico. Schick was so used to staying in largely central positions this season, opting for the right over the left, and that positioning allowed Werner the space to drift out wide to play in a way that suited him.
This is where Yussuf Poulsen comes into play and, in the short-term, seems the player best suited to being an almost straight swap for Werner in a tactical sense. He's back in training after missing the final part of the Bundesliga campaign with an ankle injury - although it should be said that he could well be absent for this game.
Poulsen is as important to this Leipzig side as Werner was. His willingness to do the dirty work, the unappreciated work, allowed Werner to flourish in front of goal. Without Poulsen, Werner wouldn't have posted the tally he did.
The Werner/Schick partnership brought a joint-goal participation of 0.12 per 90 minutes, while the figure jumps up to 0.17 per 90 minutes with Werner/Poulsen. That's particularly impressive given how they have played just under 100 more games together.
But the work by Poulsen doesn't necessarily show up in these statistics. His physical presence in more noticeable while it's the movement for Werner. In the long run, Poulsen wouldn't be an effective straight swap. He's better as the partner to a Werner type. Poulsen would be battling Schick for a position; the secondary striker where goals aren't necessarily the main focus.
Leipzig could opt to pack the midfield and leave one of Schick or Poulsen to almost act as a target man. That would allow the likes of Christopher Nkunku to do the running off them and make the impact out wide. Nkunku has 16 assists in all competitions this season.
That switch would mean changing a preferred tactic that has got Leipzig this far. There's a case to be made for adapting to what they have but what they have is Poulsen who can at least play the 'drift out wide' forward role for the 90 minutes on Thursday night.
Granted it's not ideal given his attributes but neither is selling your top goalscorer with games still to play. Atletico's defensive solidity is the Kryptonite to those teams who love free-flowing attacking football; perhaps Poulsen's physical presence will put them in a better position as they aim to find a way through.
They've not afraid to change styles, as we have seen throughout the season, and two central attacking midfielders could play just behind Schick if the Poulsen option isn't available. Their preferred method in the Champions League has been two recognised strikers though and Leipzig shouldn't simply disregard a two-striker possibility if both are fit for selection.
Leipzig being involved at this stage of the Champions League is testament to a club who continues to rise on both the German and European scenes. They were Sporting Life's 5/2 pick to reach the quarter-finals in our outright preview at the beginning of the season and they have all the potential to exceed that in the future.
But Thursday night should see their latest European adventure come to an end. The underdogs have seemingly gone as far as they can and the loss of Werner will hit them hard. Sourcing a suitable replacement is priority number one in the summer transfer window.
Follow Sporting Life on social - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football content
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
MOST READ FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL TIPS
