Will the Bayern chasers set off another firework of goals?
Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are not only the second and third-placed teams in the table, and thus Bayern’s two main pursuers, but also face each other directly in the top match of matchday 21. It is also the clash of two goal factories. The Black and Yellows have already scored 52 goals, while the Werkself have 49 goals from 20 games – an internal Bundesliga record.
Although there is only one place between the two teams in the table. Nevertheless, BVB has a comfortable eight-point lead over the Werkself, which is why the betting companies have a very clear view of the matter. In the run-up to the match between Dortmund and Leverkusen, the odds are clearly in favour of the black and yellow team.
The Westphalians’ strong home series against Bayer also speaks in favour of a home win. BVB have won all of their last six home games against Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. In view of the fact that the Werkself is in good form, however, it is advisable to bet on a high-scoring match between Dortmund and Leverkusen.
The fact that there was already a goal festival between the two teams in the first leg of the 4:3 away win for the black and yellow team also speaks in favour of more than 3.5 goals.
Dortmund – Statistics & current form
Borussia Dortmund surprisingly lost 2-1 to St. Pauli in the last 16 of the DFB Pokal and did not advance beyond the preliminary round in the Champions League. Apart from that, however, the 2021/22 season was quite successful for the black-and-yellow team.
The Westphalians won 14 of their first 20 league games. A better rate has only been achieved under Lucien Favre, who won 15 of the first 20 league games. Meanwhile, the eight-point lead over today’s guests from Leverkusen is a reflection of just how good this record is.
A perfect start to the second half of the Bundesliga with three wins
But with FC Bayern once again floating in completely separate spheres and six points ahead of Borussia, those in charge are likely to see plenty of room for improvement. However, also because superstar Erling Haaland did not move in the winter transfer window, BVB remained quiet on the transfer market and did not register any further additions.
Now the black and yellows are looking to build on their good start to the second half of the season. Dortmund won the first three league games of the second half of the season for the fifth time in their club’s history, beating three in-form opponents in Frankfurt (3:2), Freiburg (5:1) and Hoffenheim (3:2).
Only the ninth best defence in the Bundesliga
Only the defence continues to offer potential for improvement. In total, the defence has already conceded 31 goals in 20 league games. This means that BVB only has the ninth-best defence in the Bundesliga.
On the other hand, the attack has already scored 52 times – second best in the league behind Bayern – and has already scored 43 out of a possible 60 points. The Rose eleven will therefore be favourites going into the home match against the Werkself, who have been defeated six times in a row at Signal Iduna Park.
Predicted Dortmund line-up:
Kobel – Guerreiro – Zagadou – Akanji – Meunier – Dahoud – Bellingham – Brandt – Malen – Reus – Hazard
Last matches played by Dortmund:
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Hoffenheim 2 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
DFB Cup
01/18 2022 – St. Pauli 2 – 1 Borussia Dortmund
1st Bundesliga
01/14 2022 – Borussia Dortmund 5 – 1 SC Freiburg
01/08 2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 2 – 3 Borussia Dortmund
12/18 2021 – Hertha Berlin 3 – 2 Borussia Dortmund
Leverkusen – Statistics & current form
Bayer 04 Leverkusen only finished the 2020/21 season in sixth place, missing out on the Champions League qualification they were aiming for for the second year in a row. This was one of the reasons why the managers made adjustments to the coaching staff and brought in Gerardo Seoane, who has been very successful in Switzerland.
Under the 43-year-old, the Werkself is doing very well in all respects. In the second round of the DFB Cup, they suffered a surprising 2-1 home defeat against second-division side Karlsruher SC. In the Europa League, however, the Rhinelanders celebrated group victory with 13 of a possible 18 points.
Seven points out of a possible nine to start the second leg
Leverkusen are also on target in the Bundesliga as third in the table and would return to the top flight as things stand. However, they still need a little more consistency, as the lead over seventh place is only four points, which is why they could quickly fall back into mid-table if the results are not there.
At least the Werkself started the second half of the season in good form. With 9:4 goals, Gerardo Seoane’s men took seven out of a possible nine points in the calendar year 2022.
No point gained at Signal Iduna Park since August 2014
At the same time, Bayer 04’s offensive is the absolute showpiece. 49 goals from 20 league games – never before in the entire Bundesliga history of the Rhinelanders. In view of the fact that Sardar Azmoun, another attacker, was signed on the winter transfer market, the end of the scoring spree is not yet in sight.
However, because the Werkself has not always been defensively stable, having already conceded 32 goals, and has not been able to keep a clean sheet in the last eight league games, Dortmund’s betting on their first point win at Signal Iduna Park since August 2014 is not exactly favourable.
Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Bakker – Hincapie – Tah – Frimpong – Aránguiz – Andrich – Diaby – Wirtz – Bellarabi – Schick
Last matches played by Leverkusen:
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 5 – 1 Augsburg
01/15 2022 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
01/08 2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 2 Union Berlin
12/19 2021 – SC Freiburg 2 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
12/15 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 2 Hoffenheim
Dortmund – Leverkusen Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 41 – 22 – 31
There have been a total of 94 meetings between the two teams so far and BVB lead the direct comparison with 41 wins. The first leg was also won 4-3 by the Black and Yellows on 11 September 2021, who have also won their last six home games in a row against the Werkself.
Dortmund – Leverkusen Tip
When it comes to Dortmund against Leverkusen, the prediction generally goes to the home-strong black-and-yellows, who have, however, been in trouble due to defensive negligence on a few occasions in the 2021/22 season. It is true that BVB usually scored more goals than they conceded, which is why, for example, the first leg in Leverkusen resulted in a 4:3 away victory. However, the Westphalians are currently in short supply in games to nil.
The same applies to Werkself, who have never been so prolific in the Bundesliga, but have also been too vulnerable defensively. Accordingly, there is a lot of value in betting that there will also be a goal festival in the return match between the two top teams.
