Chris Wildgoose | Sports Journalist

Red Bull gives you wings. That certainly seems to be the case for high-flying RB Leipzig. Bankrolled by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, the East German side have enjoyed five promotions in seven years and are currently second in the Bundesliga.

With New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg in his burgeoning portfolio of football clubs, Mateschitz sought the opportunity to add a German project to his monopoly. In 2009 RB Leipzig was founded as a successor club to SSV Markranstadt, who had been plying their trade in the fifth tier of German football. However, due to German football rules, he was prohibited from incorporating sponsorship into the name and so RasenBallsport Leipzig was born. Or RB Leipzig for short. You get the idea.

Immediate success is high on the agenda for the Bulls’ ambitious hierarchy, but development of home grown talent is one of the main priorities. Based at Cottaweg, the RB Leipzig training facility was certified with the highest three star rating in July 2015, placing the complex amongst the top rated academies in Germany.

As well as buying into the club’s philosophy, players must take care of their appearance too with ‘unusual hairstyles’ and tattoos forbidden. Sporting Director Ralf Rangnick recruited Frieder Schrof and Thomas Albeck – responsible for the development of Mario Gomez, Sami Kedhira and Thomas Hitzlsperger – from Stuttgart in 2012 in a bid to produce the finest talent German football could offer.

It’s a move that appears to be having the desired effect, with the club already reaping the rewards at youth level. Last season, the U19s won the Landespokal Sachsen and the U17s won the NOFV-Pokal.

Germany international Joshua Kimmich made 53 appearances for RB Leipzig between 2013-15 before signing for Bayern Munich in a €7m deal. The 21-year-old spent six years with Stuttgart in their academy prior to joining Leipzig, who were influential in his development.

But the real question is: are RB Leipzig genuine title contenders?

Yes, is the answer. Currently unbeaten in the league after nine games, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side are just two points behind champions Bayern Munich. The high-fliers recorded an impressive 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in their first home match of the season and have also secured victories at Hamburg and Wolfsburg. Draws against Hoffenheim and Koln (who sit third and fourth, respectively) are indications of the resilience and quality in the Leipzig team.

However, there are no real household names in the squad. Timo Werner, a summer arrival from Stuttgart, is another exciting prospect with the striker having represented Germany at all youth levels. Austrian duo Stefan Ilsanker and Marcel Sabitzer are probably the two most high profile names in the squad, while Scotland international Oliver Burke joined from Nottingham Forest for a reported £13m fee in August, making him the most expensive Scottish player in history.

The Bulls are riding the crest of a wave at the moment and with Mainz coming up at the weekend they will fancy themselves to extend their incredible unbeaten run to ten games.