Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen: Betting Odds & Prediction
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Bayer Leverkusen begin their Bundesliga title celebrations with a trip to the Signal Iduna Park to face Champions League-chasing Borussia Dortmund.
The champions will look to maintain their unbeaten season, while Dortmund need the points to get back into the top four. Kick-off at the Signal Iduna Park is set for 4:30pm on Sunday.
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Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund will be coming into this game on a major high, as they reached their first Champions League semi-final in 11 years with a 5-4 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid in midweek.
However, Der BVB remain in a battle to secure a place in Europe’s premier competition via their league position, as they sit fifth, below RB Leipzig on goal difference. It does however look as though Germany will receive an additional Champions League spot as they sit top of the UEFA coefficient rankings.
A brilliant run in 2024 has put Dortmund in a good position to get back into the top four, with only Stuttgart and Hoffenheim taking all three points against them in their last 15 league games (W9, D4). The run has left them third in the form table in that period with 31 points, only behind Leverkusen (43) and Stuttgart (32).
Gregor Kobel has proved to be a busy man between the sticks this season, preventing 6.27 goals more than expected in the Bundesliga this season, the best in the entire division, keeping six clean sheets in the process.
Dortmund also have a great recent record against Sunday’s opponents, winning seven of their last 11 against Leverkusen (D1, L3), whilst also grabbing a point in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the BayArena in December.
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen had been champions in waiting for months, and the inevitable was confirmed last weekend with a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen sealing the crown for Xabi Alonso’s side. Die Werkself have been well worth their success this season, dominating in almost all statistics this season, especially defensively.
Leverkusen have kept the most clean sheets (15), conceded the least number of goals (19), held the highest average possession (63.1%), and completed the most accurate passes per game (616.8) in the division this season.
Alonso also holds the best creator in the Bundesliga this season in the form of left-back Alejandro Grimaldo, with the ex-Benfica man topping the assist charts with 12, one more than Leroy Sane and Julian Brandt, while the Spaniard is ranked second for big chances created with 17.
Prediction
Both sides will be coming into this with major boosts, with Dortmund in the last four in the Champions League, and Leverkusen now one trophy down in their hunt for an invincible treble.
Any suggestions of hangover on the side of the visitors following their title win should be disregarded due to their continued involvement in the Europa League and DFB-Pokal, and despite Dortmund’s need for points to maintain their Champions League hopes, OddsNow back Leverkusen to continue their impressive form with more goals at Signal Iduna Park.