Prediction: Bayer Levekusen vs Borussia Dortmund

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 16/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Bayer Leverkusen are set to host Borussia Dortmund in a bid to secure their position at the summit of the Bundesliga table on Sunday afternoon. It should be an interesting encounter between two high-quality sides.

Dortmund managed to secure a victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in their previous outing, but they enter this match trailing their upcoming opponents by a considerable 10-point margin.

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen have been on an impressive winning streak throughout the season. Xabi Alonso’s men secured a comfortable 3-0 victory away at Werder Bremen in their previous outing, marking their 11th win in 12 league games. Their sole interruption came from second-placed Bayern Munich in all competitions, and even the reigning champions couldn’t beat them.

Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo continued their exceptional goal-scoring form as wing-backs, adding to their tally after Olivier Deman’s early own goal gave their team the advantage at the Weserstadion. Leverkusen dominated the match, restricting Werder to only two shots throughout the game at their home stadium.

In the Europa League, ‘Die Werkself’ sealed their 18th win in 19 matches in all competitions by defeating Hacken 2-0 in Norway. Both Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick found the net on either side of halftime. Winning Group H means Leverkusen will skip the last-32 stage and advances directly to the Europa League round-of-16 from March 2024 onwards.

With a break from European competition, Alonso and the team are now fully focused on domestic competitions. They face a manageable home fixture against Paderborn in the DFB-Pokal third round, flanked by crucial Bundesliga clashes against fourth-placed Dortmund and third-placed Stuttgart.

Sitting atop the Bundesliga, Leverkusen face a pivotal week with Bayern, close behind in the standings, expected to continue their winning streak against Union Berlin. This upcoming period represents a critical phase in Leverkusen’s campaign as they aim for success in at least one competition after an exceptional start to the season.

Team News

Leverkusen will have to do without Arthur, sidelined due to a prolonged thigh injury. There’s optimism surrounding Florian Wirtz’s possible start, despite his recent muscle issue which led to his substitution against Werder Bremen. With the 20-year-old displaying exceptional form this season, coach Alonso will surely want his talent in the starting XI for a game like this.

For the trip to Gothenburg last Thursday, Alonso made eight changes to the team that played in Bremen. Among those alterations, only Boniface, Robert Andrich, and Piero Hincapie retained their positions in the starting lineup. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder is expected to select what he considers his best starting eleven for this significant match, indicating probable starts for Jonas Hofmann and Granit Xhaka.

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund’s pursuit of the Bundesliga title has been a very challenging task, especially after last season’s near miss when they fell short against Mainz 05 on the final day. To remain in contention this term, securing three points at BayArena has become crucial for their championship aspirations, marking their first league title since 2012 and the days of Jurgen Klopp at the helm.

In their recent Bundesliga outing against Gladbach, BVB displayed resilience, bouncing back from a two-goal deficit to secure a thrilling win with Marcel Sabitzer, Niclas Fullkrug, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens contributing to overturn the early setback. This victory propelled them into fourth place, surpassing Leipzig in the league standings.

But if chasing an eight-point gap to Bayern within 12 matches appears daunting, Dortmund’s focus might shift to cup competitions and securing a spot in the next season’s Champions League.

Their impressive performance in this season’s edition of UEFA’s elite competition, particularly the away victory against AC Milan, have secured their place in the knockout stages. Avoiding defeat against PSG in the final group match could secure their passage as group winners from the challenging ‘Group of Death’ also featuring Newcastle, whom they beat twice.

Dortmund face a tough task against Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal before a crucial clash against RB Leipzig. To challenge an unbeaten Leverkusen side, Edin Terzic’s men must maintain focus, perform at their peak level, and obviously shatter the home sides’s unbeaten streak.

Team News

Julian Duranville and Felix Nmecha are sidelined due to thigh and hip problems, respectively, while Marcel Lotka is suspended. Additionally, Niklas Sule’s availability is uncertain as he battles illness, having missed the previous match against Milan.

Between the previous matches against Gladbach and Milan, Terzic made only one change, introducing Donyell Malen in place of Julian Brandt. Due to Brandt’s technical ability, he’s likely to return to the lineup for the upcoming fixture to bolster the team’s attacking midfield with added creativity.

Conclusion

This is undoubtedly a significant fixture in the Bundesliga, with both teams having distinct motivations to go for a win. Leverkusen will aim to stay in the top spot, especially if Bayern win their match against Union Berlin, while Dortmund seek to narrow the gap between them and their opponents.

Considering Leverkusen’s current exceptional form, they seem to be performing at a superior level compared to Dortmund. As a result, it’s a strong possibility that Leverkusen emerge victorious in what could potentially be an engaging and exciting match, with plenty of goals.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 16/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet