Will the Werkself shoot their way out of the crisis?
When things just don’t work out at national level, a game on the international stage can work wonders, if you win it. That’s exactly what Bayer Leverkusen will be hoping for on Thursday when they host Betis Sevilla at the BayArena, as the Werkself want and need to shoot their way out of the crisis.
On matchday four, Bayer await the Andalusians for the top-of-the-table clash in the Europa League. Both teams have picked up seven points from three games and there is little to suggest that these two sides will march into the next round in lockstep. In the direct duel on Thursday, it is already a question of winning the group, which means direct entry into the last 16.
As runners-up, they still have to prove themselves in a sixteen-final. Celtic Glasgow and Ferencvaros Budapest may be illustrious names, but neither club has the quality to challenge the top teams. Therefore, before the kick-off between Leverkusen and Betis Sevilla, we risk the prediction that both teams will spend the winter in the Europa League.
We think Bayer 04 have more quality in their squad, but the Spaniards have been in better form recently. Therefore, it is relatively complicated to place the right tip in the match Leverkusen vs Betis Sevilla.
Leverkusen – Statistics & current form
There is rumblings around the BayArena. The team has already spoken to many fans and after a great start to the season, it now almost looks like Gerardo Seoane is climbing up the list of endangered coaches, while his team is doing the exact opposite in the Bundesliga table.
Crisis Rhinelanders
However, you still have to leave the church in the village, because the goal of the Werkself is a place in the Champions League. They are currently in fourth place and top of the Europa League table. In the cup, however, they suffered a surprising defeat at home to the second-division team from Karlsruhe and have now been waiting five games for a win.
Therefore, there is certainly the opportunity to check the odds on double chance X2 in the clash between Leverkusen and Betis Sevilla, especially as the Werkself have now lost three times in a row at home. Last weekend, for example, they suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to VfL Wolfsburg in a clash of works teams.
To make matters worse, Mitchel Bakker has now joined the lush lazaretto. In addition to the Dutchman, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Julian Baumgartlinger, Charles Aranguiz, Karim Bellarabi and Patrik Schick will also be missing. One bright spot, however, is that Moussa Diaby, who was recently suspended in the Bundesliga, will return to the starting eleven.
Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Andrich, Demirbay – Diaby, Wirtz, Amiri – Alario – Coach: Seoane
Last matches played by Leverkusen:
1st Bundesliga
10/30 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 0 – 2 Vfl Wolfsburg
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 2 Karlsruher SC
1st Bundesliga
10/24 2021 – 1. FC Köln 2 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
Europa League Grp. G
10/21 2021 – Real Betis 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
1st Bundesliga
10/17 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 5 Bayern Munich
Betis Sevilla – Statistics & current form
What a good and experienced coach can do is currently evident at Betis Sevilla. Manuel Pellegrini has seen it all in his career. The Chilean has succeeded in turning a relegation candidate into a team that may be admired in the Champions League next season.
Slight problems away from home
In fact, Betis are in fifth place in the La Liga table after twelve matchdays, putting them in a wide-ranging top flight. The Andalusians have only lost two of their last twelve competitive matches, both away from home. That’s why it’s fair to predict a home win in the match between Leverkusen and Betis Sevilla.
However, the dress rehearsal of the Andalusians went really wrong last weekend. Betis were guests of champions Atletico Madrid and conceded a heavy 3-0 defeat. German Pezzella even scored an own goal to make it 2:0 for the capital. Such a defeat must be swiftly forgotten in order to get back on the road to success.
Some changes in the Spanish team are to be expected in any case. Nabil Fekir, for example, is always a player you can imagine in the starting eleven. All in all, Manuel Pellegrini will bring in some fresh players, because in Betis Sevilla’s squad you look in vain for suspended or injured players at the moment.
Predicted Betis Sevilla line-up:
Bravo – Moreno, Gonzalez, Pezzella, Montoya – Carvalho, Guardado – Juanmi, Canales, Sanchez – Willian Jose – Coach: Pellegrini
Last matches played by Betis Sevilla:
LaLiga
10/31 2021 – Atletico Madrid 3 – 0 Real Betis
10/27 2021 – Real Betis 4 – 1 Valencia
10/24 2021 – Real Betis 3 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
Europa League Grp. G
10/21 2021 – Real Betis 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
LaLiga
10/18 2021 – Deportivo Alaves 0 – 1 Real Betis
Leverkusen – Betis Sevilla Direct comparison / H2H record
Bayer Leverkusen and Betis Sevilla have only met once before. However, the Werkself has played numerous duels against Spanish teams, while the Andalusians have faced German clubs. This year, Leverkusen and Betis are writing a new chapter of German-Spanish encounters in the European Cup.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Seville a fortnight ago. Betis already looked like the supposedly sure winner, as the Spaniards took the lead a quarter of an hour before the end after a penalty goal by Borja Iglesias. However, Robert Andrich scored in the closing stages to make the final score 1-1.
Leverkusen – Betis Sevilla Tip
Bayer Leverkusen must find a way out of the minicircle. The Werkself doesn’t have much to lose in the Europa League because the situation in the table is reasonably comfortable. Despite the recent weak results, Gerardo Seoane’s team can play free and maybe Leverkusen will use the chance to end the losing streak.
After three home defeats in a row, this is sorely needed, otherwise it could be a dark autumn for the new coach. With Betis comes a team that is in good form, but sometimes has problems away from home.
We think that you should definitely keep the risk low in this match, so rather start with a lower stake. However, we can imagine that Bayer 04 will break the knot on Thursday. Maybe you can use DNB as a hedge, but we decided to play the odds on a home win between Leverkusen and Betis Sevilla.
