Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund Odds, Prediction & Betting Tips
Unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen are having the season of their lives thus far, undefeated in all competitions and only dropping points in one Bundesliga game out of their twelve played. Xabi Alonso has them playing a wonderful style of football and has neutrals, analysts and general football fans alike purring. They have a Harry Kane fuelled Bayern Munich breathing down their necks in second and on Sunday afternoon Bayer 04 play host to another German giant: Borussia Dortmund...
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Things could hardly be going better for Bayer Leverkusen on all fronts right now. The side are playing a swashbuckling brand of football which bamboozles defences at home and in Europe, while they are on their best domestic run since 2008 (eight consecutive league wins). Widely available at 50/1 to win the Bundesliga in pre-season, Xabi Alonso's charges have now been sliced into 7/2 second favourites, albeit they are behind a juggernaut in Bayern Munich who have won the last TEN German titles.
Leverkusen have made the joint best start to a Bundesliga season of all time, tying Pep Guardiola's Bayern machine of 2015/16 who went on to waltz to the league title. Eleven wins, one draw and no points dropped from winning positions means Leverkusen are still sitting pretty atop the table, but with Munich a relentless chaser or leader as they have proved so often in this division, no slip ups will be forgiven.
In the opposing corner, a Dortmund side that spectacularly bottled the title on the final day last year are waiting. This season the Black and Yellow look to be out of the title race already and are missing the world's best midfielder Jude Bellingham, however they have shown plenty of fighting spirit thus far this season. Dortmund came back from 2 down in the first half to win 4-2 at Gladbach last time out and are a threat to any side on the break. Leverkusen are the rightful favourites, but this game looks tailormade for chances galore and should be a thriller.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund Tips
Bayer Leverkusen To Win And BTTS
The Bundesliga is the league BTTS punters love most, and it has been that way for sometime. German football is notorious for counter attacking and rapid transitions, with plenty of managers employing high lines and challenging their opponents with a philosophy that states; However many you score, we will just score more. Clashes between the big sides in the division can go one of two ways; cagey affairs or, what I am hoping for here, a straight shootout.
Borussia Dortmund have not been as lethal in front of goal this season as they'd have liked, but they have managed to hit the target in every away game so far. The trouble has been they have not managed to keep their opponents out on their travels either, which is bad news for the Black and Yellow but brilliant news for this bet. Last season Dortmund were in fact the only team to do the double over Leverkusen, but this is a new Bayer and the 2023/24 iteration should have too much for their visitors.
While BTTS is just 4/9 in this game and Leverkusen to win is only 4/6, combining the two makes a much more attractive punt at 13/8. Leverkusen have won a perfect six from six at home so far and have seen four of these wins come with BTTS landing. The two sides Bayer have kept out are not of the standard that Dortmund will be able to throw at them from an offensive point of view, so while I am expecting the league leaders to continue their 100% record at their fortress I do think the visitors will grab a goal or two.
Alex Grimaldo Anytime Goal Scorer
It is often fraught with danger to support a player in goalscorer markets who does not have a long history of bagging and may just be in a purple patch. This is especially true when backing defenders, although perhaps that thinking is a tad outdated with the modern method of playing full-backs as auxiliary wingers or even forwards in football. Xabi Alonso certainly loves to see his full backs marauding up the field and the main beneficiary so far this season, particularly in recent weeks, has been Alex Grimaldo.
The left back has all season shown a heatmap more akin to a left winger of yesteryear, indeed sometimes looking like a central midfielder as well, but in his last five games he has shown five goal involvements. Four of these have been goals for himself and with Dortmund typically open this season, he can profit once again from a wide open game and make it five goals in six games.
The price of 7/2 looks generous from bet365 for someone in such fine goal-scoring form and while he may not be the most eye-catching name on the Bayer 04 teamsheet these days with Wirtz and Boniface stealing the headlines, he gets himself into brilliant positions and can finish when required. For braver punters, I would never put them off small stakes plays on the selection first, last, anytime and multiple goals but for the purpose of this preview we will simply go with the left back to bag anytime at 7/2.
