Christoph Baumgartner said RB Leipzig are in a strong position for Champions League qualification, but he is not ready to call it done. The 26-year-old said Leipzig probably still need two more wins to make sure of it, and that the immediate focus is Saturday’s home game against Union Berlin.
“We are in a good position, but it’s not done yet,” Baumgartner said. “We have to win probably two more games, and then we will be sure of it. It’s always about the next game. We are looking forward to playing at home against Union Berlin now. That’s always a difficult game against difficult opponents.”
That matters because Leipzig have spent much of the season balancing strong results with patches of inconsistency, and Baumgartner has been central to the recovery. He is Leipzig’s joint-top scorer with 12 goals this season, level with Yan Diomande, and the Austrian’s numbers have helped keep the club in the hunt as the campaign closes in on its decisive stretch.
The comments came in an interview on the Bundesliga official website, where Baumgartner also reflected on the broader shape of Leipzig’s season. He said the team had gone through periods of differing form, but fought back into a strong position. He credited Ole Werner with handling a summer of change well, saying the coach did an amazing job in his first season after a number of players arrived and several important figures left.
Baumgartner’s partnership with Diomande has also become part of Leipzig’s story this season. He called the young forward a fantastic player and said he tries to help him with off-the-pitch matters, even if there is little he can teach him about football itself. Diomande’s pace, dribbling and calm finishing, Baumgartner said, make him the kind of player who can become world class.
For Baumgartner, though, the biggest moment still lies ahead this summer. He said representing Austria at the World Cup will be the biggest thing in his career so far, and described the chance to play on that stage — including against Lionel Messi — as something really special. Leipzig can still secure their place in Europe’s elite competition, but for one of their leading scorers, the season is now being measured against a different kind of milestone as well.