Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
A captivating showdown awaits at the BayArena this Saturday evening as Bayer Leverkusen, the undefeated front-runners, face off against the reigning champions, Bayern Munich, in a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash in the Bundesliga.
This match marks a historic moment in Bundesliga history as both teams have amassed 50 points each after 20 matches, with Leverkusen leading narrowly with 52 points, while Bayern trails closely behind with 50 points, making it the first time such a feat has been achieved.
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen achieved a remarkable milestone in German football history by extending their unbeaten streak to 30 games across all competitions following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday, securing their place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.
Facing deficits twice during the match at the BayArena, Die Werkself showcased resilience as they rallied back from 1-0 and 2-1 down. Amine Adli’s 66th-minute equalizer and Jonathan Tah’s dramatic 90th-minute winner, Leverkusen’s third stoppage-time goal since the start of the year, turned the tide in their favor.
With this feat, Leverkusen join Bayern Munich as the only teams in German football history to enjoy a 30-game unbeaten run. Impressively, Leverkusen have accrued 25 points more in the Bundesliga than they did at this stage last season, conceding a league-low 14 goals along the way.
In their previous Bundesliga outing, Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory against SV Darmstadt 98, demonstrating their dominance. Throughout the current campaign, Xabi Alonso’s team has dropped points in just four out of their 20 league fixtures, with one of those occasions being a 2-2 draw against Bayern, where Exequiel Palacios netted a crucial 94th-minute equalizer at the Allianz Arena.
Alonso, who previously guided Leverkusen to a 2-1 home triumph over Bayern in March last year, aims to maintain their momentum. The former Bayern player seeks to gain a psychological edge in the title race by securing victory on Saturday, potentially extending their lead at the top to five points.
The biggest long-term worry for Levekusen at the moment is Jurgen Klopp announcing his intention to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, and the speculation about the Premier League giants, also a club where Alonso enjoyed a rather successful spell as a player, reportedly having him on their list of possible replacements.
Team News
Victor Boniface and Arthur remain sidelined due to groin and thigh injuries respectively. Additionally, Odilon Kossounou continues to represent Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, keeping him away from the team.
Exacerbating their injury concerns, Palacios, who has been absent from the last three matches due to a thigh problem, remains uncertain for Saturday’s fixture. Consequently, there’s a possibility that Robert Andrich and Granit Xhaka may once again pair up in the centre-midfield position.
Following his impressive performance with a brace against Darmstadt in the previous weekend, Nathan Tella is vying for a starting spot. Meanwhile, Patrik Schick might make way upfront for Borja Iglesias.
Bayern Munich
Being the only real threat to Leverkusen at the top of the table, Bayern are playing very well and the fact that there’s only two points between them means the Bavarians would overtake their rivals if they win at the BayArena. They will, however, also be aware of the fact that that’s easier said than done this season.
Despite a setback with a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen in late January, Bayern have bounced back with victories in their last three Bundesliga encounters against Union Berlin, Augsburg, and Borussia Monchengladbach, triumphing 3-1 in the latter fixture.
In the recent match against Borussia Monchengladbach, Thomsas Tuchel’s side found themselves trailing after Nico Elvedi’s 35th-minute goal. However, a goal from teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic just before halftime, followed by strikes from Harry Kane and Matthijs de Ligt, secured a comeback victory, much to the satisfaction of head coach who praised his team’s resilience against a formidable opponent.
As they prepare for a crucial title showdown with Leverkusen, Bayern understand the importance of securing a positive result. Just as a victory would boost their chances of keeping their crown, a defeat might prove nothing short of disaster, especially if Leverkusen maintain their incredible form for the rest of the season.
Despite their previous defeat at the BayArena, Bayern hold a strong record in away matches against Leverkusen, having won their last four encounters and scoring a total of 15 goals in the process.
Team News
Alphonso Davies sustained a knee injury in the previous weekend’s fixture, adding his name to the list of sidelined players, including Kingsley Coman (knee), Serge Gnabry (thigh), Daniel Peretz (knee), Tarek Buchmann (thigh), and Bouna Sarr (ACL).
Ahead of the upcoming match, Konrad Laimer (calf) and January signing Bryan Zaragoza (illness) will undergo assessments, while Joshua Kimmich (shoulder) and Dayot Upamecano (hamstring) have returned to full training and could be available for selection this weekend. Additionally, Kim Min-jae has rejoined the squad following his participation with South Korea in the Asian Cup.
With his recent scoring form in mind, Pavlovic aims to retain his place in the center-midfield alongside Leon Goretzka. Providing support in the attacking lineup, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, and Jamal Musiala are expected to complement central striker Kane, who seeks to add to his tally with his 25th Bundesliga goal of the season.
Conclusion
A clash between perennial champions and the season marvel can only be an extremely interesting contest, and this one will be no exception. Both teams will look to deal a decisive blow to their rival, and a proper battle for possession in the middle of the park should unfold, with plenty of chances and goals at both ends.
Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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