Leverkusen v Dortmund – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Leverkusen host Dortmund at the BayArena in the Bundesliga on Tuesday night. These sides are level on points in the table in third and fourth place respectively but both lag seven points behind log leaders Bayern Munich. The last five meetings between these sides have seen 26 goals scored so a very entertaining affair is expected.

Leverkusen Form

Die Werkself have had a good season but their recent form has seen their title ambitions take a serious blow. After 12 Bundesliga matches, Leverkusen sat top of the table with eight wins and four draws. That included the second best attack and second best defensive record.

Leverkusen’s December started with a 3-0 win at Schalke, a 4-1 home win against Hoffenheim and a 4-0 win at Koln. Since then, they have lost three of their four Bundesliga matches. A 2-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich knocked confidence and they subsequently lost 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt and drew 1-1 at home with Werder Bremen.

In their last match, they lost 1-0 at Union Berlin after an 88th minute goal. This poor run of form means they now sit seven points off the summit.

Leverkusen Team News

Peter Bosz has a fair few injuries to contend with in his side. After the sale of Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz came into the first team and the 17-year-old has done very well. He has a knee problem and has missed the last three matches though and is a serious doubt.

Sven Bender has missed several games in defence but Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba form a very strong centre back pairing. Left-winger, Paulinho is out long term as in right-back Santiago Arias and midfielder Exequiel Palacios.

Leverkusen Motivation

Matches between these sides are usually open affairs with several goals. Bosz sets his side up to have very attacking fullbacks and plenty of runners behind the opposition defence. He is not a coach who sets his side up to draw matches and this will be no different, especially at home.

Leverkusen are level on points with Dortmund and a draw will be a bad result for both teams as it would allow Bayern Munich to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Dortmund Form

After six Bundesliga matches this season, Dortmund were tied top of the table with Bayern Munich. Like Leverkusen, a defeat to the Bavarian giants saw confidence affected and a much poorer run of form has followed. The side have lost four of their last 10 league matches including that game and sit 9th in the form table over that period.

Part of the reason for the side’s dip in form was an injury to Erling Haaland (19 goals in 17 games) and since his return they’ve won two matches and drew their last game 1-1 at home to Mainz.

Dortmund Team News

Dortmund saw Dan-Axel Zagadou go off injured at centre back in the last match but they have excellent cover in Manuel Akanji. They have three other significant injuries too as Thorgan Hazard, Axel Witsel and Gio Reyna all missed the last match. Hazard and Witsel are out long-term and the latter leaves a hole in midfield especially because Emre Can is suspended too.

Mahmoud Dahoud or Thomas Delaney will therefore partner Jude Bellingham in central midfield. Edin Terzic has preferred a 4-2-3-1 shape since taking over and should continue to use Marco Reus in support of Haaland.

Dortmund Motivation

BVB will play to win the match in order to try to close the gap to the top. They will see a Leverkusen side in a bad period and likely press very aggressively and attack with purpose in the early stages. Haaland won’t have it easy in this match with Tah and Tapsoba such physically gifted defenders so it may mean more wide play is used with Jadon Sancho and Julian Brandt creating on the flanks.

It is difficult to see either side settling for a draw or shutting up shop at any stage of this match.

Key Stats

Leverkusen have lost 3 of their last 4 Bundesliga matches

Leverkusen have kept 1 clean sheet in their last 6 Bundesliga matches

The last five meetings between these sides have seen over 3.5 goals (26 goals in last 5 meetings)

Dortmund have won 4 of their last 5 matches between these sides (18-8 aggregate)

Dortmund have won 3 of their last 4 Bundesliga matches

Prediction

This game looks set to be high scoring. Dortmund are in better form over the last three rounds and look the best tip to win this match.