Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
I remember a Bundesliga match between these two sides just over two years ago when a turnaround stunned me.
Of course, Bayern Munich recovered to turn around their season and win the title.
Win this one and they will be on the verge of a ninth successive title too.
Or could we be in for another shock?
Bayer Leverkusen aren’t in the race for the championship but certainly have hopes of Champions League football next season, kept alive at the weekend when a Leon Bailey double saw off Cologne.
Talking Points
The last time Leverkusen faced Bayern was in the final game before Christmas when Die Werkself were top and still unbeaten in the league.
The status quo has been maintained since then while Leverkusen slipped down the pecking order.
Indeed, a run of only three wins in the first 13 games since the turn of the year saw Peter Bosz – the only Bundesliga coach with the honour of having beaten Hansi Flick’s Bayern in Munich – replaced by Hannes Wolf.
They remain in a European spot but could do with at least a point to maintain their chase, especially with Borussia Monchengladbach and Union Berlin hot on their heels.
Leverkusen, who are currently sixth in the table, also have a proud record to uphold after qualifying for European competition in 10 of the past 11 seasons.
Their main threat in the Allianz Arena may well be Bailey who has moved onto eight Bundesliga goals for the season. The Jamaican, who notched his career-best return for Leverkusen (nine) in 2017/18, netted his second brace of the season last weekend and has shown increasing consistency out on the pitch, also contributing seven assists so far.
He has enjoyed a few Bundesliga highlights against Bayern Munich too.
The league leaders remain major favourites, of course.
There may be politics at the club but no one can question that only the away goals rule has denied the possibility of another Bundesliga and Champions League double.
What hope is there for the visitors?
Well, they need to be resolute for a start.
Bayern have by far and away the best attack in the Bundesliga this season (83 goals scored), although they only boast the fifth-best defence (38 conceded). Leverkusen have the third-best defensive record.
They should not have to face the prolific Robert Lewandowski – who has netted 10 times in 21 career meetings against them.
The frontman returned to training with the ball last week following the knee injury he sustained on international duty with Poland.
The 2020 FIFA Men’s Best Player was subsequently ruled out for around a month and has already missed games against RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, Union Berlin and Wolfsburg.
He will no doubt be itching to get back for the final five games as he tries to claim the five goals he needs to equal Gerd Müller’s season record of 40.
The likelihood though is that a place on the substitutes bench will be the most he can expect.
Flick isn’t planning on Lewandowski’s involvement in midweek but could welcome him back for the trip to Mainz on Saturday.
In his absence, could this be Leverkusen’s moment to secure a vital point?
History
That match I referred to a couple of seasons ago was one of only two Leverkusen triumphs over the Bavarians in their past 13 meetings.
The other was this corresponding fixture last term as a Bailey double secured a 2-1 win in Munich, for whom Thomas Muller was on target.
Since then, the champions have won all three matches – two in the league and one in the German Cup.
That includes earlier this season when, just before Christmas, Lewandowski scored a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 success.
He had earlier canceled out Patrik Schick’s opener.
Betting Tip
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Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen | Bayern Munich Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.28 |
| April 21, 02:30 (GMT+8) |
Bayern are overwhelming favourites with the SBOTOP Bundesliga betting odds,
You can back them 1X2 @ 1.39 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.38.
Leverkusen are adrift both with 1X2 odds @ 6.60 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.11.
For another 2-1 Bayern Munich success, the Correct Score odds are on offer @ 7.60.
Goals aplenty will payout at a decent amount with over 3.75 goals @ 2.31, Total Goal 2-3 also @ 2.31 and Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.24.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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