Bayer Leverkusen will play their first home match of the new Bundesliga season this weekend when they take on RB Leipzig at the BayArena.
Xabi Alonso's men picked up where they left off last week with a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Borussia Monchengladbach and they will be excited to play in front of their home fans for the first time this season.
RB Leipzig will provide the champions with a stern test and kickstarted their campaign with a 1-0 at home against Bochum.
How the bookies view it: Leverkusen go in as favourites
Considering they are now unbeaten in German football for more than a year, Leverkusen will be used to being pre-match favourites by now. They go into this one expected to win, too, and Betfred have priced them as the 4/5 favourites. Meanwhile, a win for RB Leipzig has been priced at 3/1 which is also the same price as a draw.
Recent head-to-head: Advantage Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen completed the double over RB Leipzig last season and both matches were five-goal thrillers which sets us up for a potentially mouthwatering match on Saturday evening. Beyond last season, though, RB Leipzig have a decent record against Leverkusen and have won three of their last seven matches against them.
Interestingly, this is a fixture that rarely ends in a draw. None of the last seven matches between the two clubs have finished level which indicates we should expect a winner on Saturday.
Players to watch: More Wirtz wizardry?
Florian Wirtz was one of the standout players in the Bundesliga last season and he has started the new campaign in a similar vein. The German playmaker scored 18 goals and provided 19 assists across all competitions last season and although it will be difficult to replicate that this time around, he has started in ominous form.
On their opening day win over Borussia Monchengladbach, Wirtz scored twice including the winner in stoppage time. His heart would have been in his mouth when he missed the penalty in the dying minutes, but he responded well to fire the rebound into the back of the net.
If RB Leipzig are to do well on Saturday, then Antonio Nusa will likely have a part to play. The new teenage signing from Norway scored on his debut for the club last weekend and there is plenty of excitement in the air around his potential.
Predicted line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen have a clean bill of health for this one with the exception of Exequiel Palacios so Xabi Alonso will likely pick the same starting XI here. RB Leipzig have more injury problems with Willi Orban, Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager all ruled out.
Leverkusen: Hradecky – Frimpong, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Grimaldo – Xhaka, Andrich – Wirtz, Hofmann, Boniface
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Henrichs, Simakan, Castello, Raum – Nusa, Seiwald, Haidara, Simons – Openda, Sesko
Anything else catch the eye?
Last season, both matches between Leverkusen and RB Leipzig finished 3-2 so this is a fixture that typically produces goals. Incidentally, this was also the same scoreline that Leverkusen won by last weekend against Borussia Monchengladbach. Over 3.5 goals to be scored has been priced at 6/5 with Betfred.
This German Bundesliga match between Leverkusen and RB Leipzig will be played on Aug 31, 2024 and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
