Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig
From one SBOTOP football fan to another, I can think of few better ways to spend Easter night than taking in this Bundesliga clash between two of 2022’s most in-form sides.
Third against fourth and two teams with high hopes of competing in next season’s Champions League.
It is also an encounter in which two frontmen worth watching will be in action as Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick and RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku tease goals.
Bundesliga highlights could well await at the BayArena.
Talking Points
Nkunku has been impressive for Leipzig and had a direct hand in two of three efforts against Hoffenheim last Sunday to take his personal tally to 17 goals and 12 assists.
He is third in the scoring charts (17) and second for assists (12) with only the prolific Robert Lewandowski (33) having a direct hand in more goals across Germany’s top flight.
And if confidence is everything in football, then Nkunku could be unstoppable at the moment after he hit another double in Europe on Thursday night to help the Red Bulls see off Atalanta in the Europa League.
Meanwhile, in the home corner is Schick who is second only to Lewandowski in the scoring charts and is averaging a league goal every 84 minutes this season.
The Czech’s 20 Bundesliga goals have helped keep Leverkusen in the top-four mix for the majority of the campaign. Although the striker hasn’t scored since picking up an injury in defeat to Mainz on Matchday 23, he managed 77 minutes of the goalless draw at Bochum last time out and should start once again.
On the team news front, centre back Jonathan Tah is a doubt for the hosts so Mitchel Bakker, his 30th-minute replacement in Bochum, should start with Piero Hincapie moving inside.
For Leipzig, left-back Angelino was among the players rested by head coach Domenico Tedesco immediately after the Europa League first leg, but it’s fair to assume rotation will be kept to a minimum in Leverkusen.
It has been a stunning few months for Leipzig, who have also scored more goals (34) and conceded fewer times (nine) than any other team in the top flight from January to April so far.
The stunning turnaround has unfolded since Tedesco took the reins from Jesse Marsch and their 29 points – from nine wins, two draws and one defeat – in 2022 are three more than leaders Bayern and Borussia Dortmund in the calendar-year table respectively.
Not that it’s been a shabby period for Leverkusen either, who boast the fourth best return in the league with 24 points and have four victories out of six at the BayArena in 2022.
This is certainly no longer the mid-table clash it was dubbed earlier in the season so, Easter night, whatever way you look at it, should be a fascinating one as two of the best and most exciting sides in Germany set about laying claim to third place.
History
Leverkusen have won just two of their 11 Bundesliga meetings with Leipzig (18 per cent) but did manage a 3-1 victory earlier in the season when Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong were on target. André Silva replied for the home side.
The corresponding fixture last season finished 1-1 when Emil Forsberg fired Leipzig in front before Kerem Demirbay replied six minutes later.
Overall, Leipzig have won five and there have been four draws in their meetings, all of which have come in the last eight years.
Leverkusen have never beaten Leipzig on their own turf.
The very first meeting in 2016 saw Kevin Kampl give them a first minute lead which was swiftly followed by an own goal three minutes later.
Julian Brandt fired them back in front on the stroke of half-time but second half goals from Forsberg and Willi Orban secured a 3-2 Leipzig success.
Betting Tip
Leipzig have the edge with our Bundesliga betting odds both 1X2 @ 2.29 and Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.29, amongst the most attractive options.
You can back Leverkusen with some enticing offers too, including 1X2 @ 3.00 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.25.
If Leverkusen are going to secure a first ever home win against their opponents, then how about another 3-1 triumph, available with Correct Score @ 25.00, while a repeat of last season’s fixture – 1-1 – will pay out @ 6.20.
Certainly, this is not expected to be a low scoring encounter given the odds of total goal 0-1 @ 4.50.
I do expect it to be close, though, which is why my *** prediction is 1X2 Draw @ 3.35.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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