Reitz Faces Gladbach in Leipzig Opener
- Rocco Reitz, who joined RB Leipzig from Gladbach for €20 million in April, will start Saturday's Bundesliga opener on the bench but coach Demichelis has publicly called on him to
- Christopher Nkunku, on loan from AC Milan, is confirmed fit for Leipzig's season opener despite Demichelis acknowledging the Frenchman lacks match rhythm after limited recent
- Nkunku will wear squad number 28 after regulations prevented a swap with number 18, currently held by Suleman Sani, whose transfer did not materialise before the DFL deadline.
Rocco Reitz will begin RB Leipzig's Bundesliga campaign on the substitutes' bench on Saturday — but his coach has made clear what is expected the moment he steps onto the pitch against his former club, Borussia Mönchengladbach.
A pointed welcome from Demichelis
The 24-year-old midfielder joined Leipzig from Mönchengladbach in April for a reported fee of €20 million. That transfer attracted criticism from sections of the Gladbach support, even though the deal was, according to reports, the express wish of Gladbach's own management, who required funds to reshape their squad. Around 5,000 Gladbach away supporters are expected in Leipzig on Saturday, and the prospect of jeers directed at Reitz has been openly acknowledged.
Leipzig head coach Martin Demichelis addressed the situation with characteristic directness. "It often happens in football that you play against your former club," he said. "If he plays and comes on, he has to score a goal — it's that simple." The remark, delivered with a smile, sets the tone for what could be a charged personal subplot to the season's opening fixture, which kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on Sky and Sat.1.
Reitz had been sidelined by a serious illness but returned to action during Leipzig's 6–0 DFB-Pokal victory over Trier, logging 26 minutes. His place in the starting eleven is described as only a matter of time, though Saturday's match will see him begin from the bench.
Nkunku back and seeking rhythm
Christopher Nkunku has returned to RB Leipzig on a one-year loan from AC Milan and is confirmed fit for the Bundesliga opener. The 28-year-old Frenchman, a popular figure with the Leipzig support, has been cleared to play, though Demichelis acknowledged he lacks match sharpness after a period of limited game time. "We have to give him the ball as much as possible — he is very intelligent. He doesn't have to play in just one position. We look from week to week at what the team needs," the coach said.
One administrative matter surrounding Nkunku's return has now been resolved. He will wear the squad number 28, last assigned to Ami Caden Clark in the 2022–23 season. Nkunku's preferred number, 18, is currently held by 19-year-old Suleman Sani, and league regulations prevented a straight swap. A transfer of Sani — understood to be a potential departure — would have freed the number, but the DFL registration deadline passed on Friday at 15:00 without a deal being concluded.
Bundesliga context
The fixture against Gladbach opens a season in which Leipzig have been assembling new faces for the top flight, with Reitz among the headline arrivals. Demichelis, who has also faced scrutiny over his tactical identity at the club, will be looking for both new signings and returning loanees to make an immediate impression. Whether Reitz gets the chance to silence his former supporters — and whether Nkunku can rediscover the form that made him one of the Bundesliga's most admired attackers — will be among the defining early questions of Leipzig's campaign.
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