Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund preview
After 12 gameweeks there seems to be to be one thing off when viewing the Bundesliga desk. It’s as a result of regardless of remaining undefeated, together with ten wins, Bayern Munich, who’ve received the final 11 titles, discover themselves in second place. The reason is the unimaginable resurgence of Bayer Leverkusen beneath the enigmatic Xabi Alonso.
Die Werkself are on an eight-game successful streak and has but to lose sport this season. Actually, in addition they went to Allianz Area and got here away with the purpose, which showcases how exhausting it’s for any group to beat them.
The subsequent group standing of their approach are Borussia Dortmund, who’ve made removed from an ideal begin within the league. Die Schwarzgelben are presently ten factors adrift of Leverkusen. Nevertheless, Dortmund will not be a group to be taken evenly, as they’ve demonstrated within the Champions League by going high of the ‘Group of Dying,’ which included Paris Saint Germain, Newcastle United, and AC Milan.
And supervisor Edin Terzic can be hoping that their Champions League exploits encourage his group to enhance their performances within the Bundesliga to get themselves again within the title race.
Nevertheless, it’s simpler mentioned than performed in opposition to a group that seems to do no flawed. The group has performers in all places within the squad corresponding to Piero Hincapie, Jonathan Tah, and Edmond Tapsoba in defence, Exequiel Palacios and Granit Xhaka in midfield, flying full backs in Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong. The star of the present, although, has been the attacking triumvirate of Jonas Hofman, Florian Wirtz, and Victor Boniface.
Dortmund, like Leverkusen, had made a great begin to the season, remaining undefeated for the primary 9 video games. Then got here the sport in opposition to Bayern Munich, the place they misplaced 4-0 on the Sign Iduna Park and adopted it up with one other defeat in opposition to VFB Stuttgart. These two defeats have significantly harm Dortmund’s marketing campaign, and they’ll want a giant win to rejuvenate the squad bodily and mentally.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen lineup
For the primary time in a very long time, Bayer Leverkusen have an nearly injury-free squad, which provides Xabi Alonso quite a lot of capability to rotate his squad in a marketing campaign the place his group is preventing for trophies on a number of fronts. With Dortmund a reputable challenger, Alonso will subject his strongest 11, which suggests the trio of Hincapie, Tapsoba, and Tah will begin in defence forward of Lukas Hradecky, who has been the popular man between the sticks within the league.
Xhaka and Palacios will play as a double pivot with Frimpong and Grimaldo offering width as wingbacks. Hofman and Wirtz will play because the attacking midfielders behind Boniface, who will proceed his position as the only striker.
Bayer Leverkusen Predicted Lineup: Hradecky; Hincapie, Tapsoba, Tah; Grimaldo, Xhaka, Palacios, Frimpong; Wirtz, Hofman; Boniface
Borussia Dortmund lineup
Dortmund suffered a major blow when midfielder Felix Nmecha sustained a hip harm which has dominated him out for the whole season; aside from that, solely centre-back Niklas Sule and Julien Duranville are out, which signifies that Dortmund can even subject a powerful facet on the BayArena. Gregor Kobel will begin in objectives behind the quartet of Ramy Bensebaini, Nico Schlotterbeck, Matt Hummels, and Julian Ryerson. Emre Can and Marcel Sabitzer have been sensible within the midfield and can take the sphere behind Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Marco Reus, and Julian Brandt. Niclas Füllkrug will play because the lone ahead.
Borussia Dortmund Predicted Lineup: Kobel: Bensebaini, Schlotterbeck, Hummels, Ryerson; Sabitzer, Can; Bynoe-Gittens, Reus, Brandt; Fullkrug
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund predictions
It’s exhausting to foretell the outcomes of those video games as each groups have the firepower to destroy the opposite on their day. Borussia Dortmund’s type has been contrasting throughout totally different competitions, which exhibits that the membership nonetheless wants extra consistency and the power to win video games the place they aren’t at their finest, each qualities of a title-winning group.
Nevertheless, Bayer Leverkusen seem to have performed no flawed within the Bundesliga and the Europa League, the place they’ve received 5 video games out of 5 to qualify for the knockout spherical. And with nearly their whole lineup in pristine type and the house crowd assist, it seems to be like a sure Leverkusen victory.
FootTheBall predicts a 3-1 win for Bayer Leverkusen.