Two of the Bundesliga's powerhouses will face off in a classic clash for their place in the Top 4. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen won their early Champions League matches and will have plenty of time to prepare for this clash.
Kasper Hjulmand’s Bayer Leverkusen achieved a famous win away at Man City on Tuesday, shocking the world of football. It was a refreshing performance, especially after the recent 7:2 loss to PSG. But Die Werkself can boast four wins in a row, during which they conceded a single goal.
Borussia Dortmund finally put an end to their winless streak by crushing Villarreal on Tuesday. BVB were without a win in November, and the 4-0 triumph at home should give them some confidence ahead of one of the most important clashes of the season.
The visitors will not be able to rely on some key figures like Maximilian Beier, but their problems are incomparable to Leverkusen’s injury crisis. This fixture is extremely difficult to predict, so let’s take a closer look at the odds.
How the bookies view it: There is no favourite
As expected, bookmakers had difficulties naming a favourite and the odds are almost identical. We’re used to seeing Die Werkself in the driving seat when at home, but the case is different this time.
Bayer Leverkusen have a minimal advantage at 31/20, while Borussia Dortmund are available at 33/20. Alternatively, the draw has been priced at 13/5.
Recent head-to-head: Leverkusen suffered a heavy defeat
While Bayer Leverkusen have been the more successful side in the Bundesliga in recent years, Borussia Dortmund have the edge in H2H meetings. BVB lead with five wins to three in the last 10 H2Hs.
Moreover, Die Werkself won only one of the last five meetings, while also losing 4-2 in the same fixture at home last season.
Players to watch: Schick vs. Guirassy
Both sides saw their stars score in the Champions League on Tuesday, which should give them more confidence in an otherwise difficult season for both. Patrik Schick scored against Man City, making it five goal contributions in his last four starts for the team.
On the other side, Serhou Guirassy finally showed his true capabilities and scored a brace against Villarreal. We all know that he is a prolific goalscorer, but he only scored in two of Dortmund’s last 10 matches.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Probable line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen: Flekken, Tapsoba, Bade, Quansah, Hofmann, Garcia, Maza, Grimaldo, Poku, Tillman, Schick
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck, Svensson, Jobe, Nmecha, Ryerson, Adeyemi, Chukwuemeka, Guirassy
Anything else catch the eye?
Most of the recent H2Hs produced incredible scorelines, regardless of the current forms of the two teams. We expect a similar outcome, with both teams creating countless opportunities and finding the net at least once.
Eight of the last 10 H2Hs saw both teams score, while six featured at least three goals too. Bayer Leverkusen’s games this season average 3.8 goals per match.
As for the end result, it feels impossible to predict the winner with confidence, but we like Bayer Leverkusen’s chances. Their recent performances have been flawless, while Borussia Dortmund have had problems on the road.
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