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In what is the biggest clash of the weekend across all major soccer leagues in Europe, Bayer Leverkusen hosts Bayern Munich for the top spot in the Bundesliga. The two clubs are separated by only two points, as Leverkusen sits atop the table thanks to a 20-game unbeaten start to their historic season. The league title will likely come down to just a few points, so this Westphalian derby may prove critical to the winner of this year’s Bundesliga trophy. Read on to access an expert Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich prediction and explore stats and the latest Bayern odds.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs FC Bayern Munich, Bundesliga (Germany)
- February 10, 2024
- 12:30 PM EST
- BayArena, Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Betting Odds
Bayern Munich are very slight favorites on the road as Leverkusen strives for their maiden league title. Bayern are tipped at just (+150) to win on the short road trip. Bayer Leverkusen will look to make their supporters proud as (+173) underdogs. A draw is lined at (+290) despite the tight nature of this contest, indicating a draw probability of 25.6%.
Bundesliga 
Bayer Leverkusen +173 +166 +160 +160 +160 Bayern Munich +145 +145 +145 +150 +150 Draw +283 +280 +290 +285 +285
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about Bundesliga betting odds.
Bayer Leverkusen Team News and Recent Games
Bayer Leverkusen achieved a historic milestone in German football by becoming only the second team to sustain a 30-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. This remarkable feat was accomplished after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday, securing their place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.
Bayer Leverkusen has not suffered a defeat in their previous two Bundesliga encounters with Bayern Munich and has the opportunity to extend this streak to three consecutive matches, a feat they have not achieved since 2010.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface and Arthur continue to be sidelined due to groin and thigh injuries, respectively. Additionally, Odilon Kossounou remains unavailable as he is representing Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Palacios, who has been dealing with a thigh problem and missed the last three games, is uncertain for Saturday’s match. Following a notable performance with a brace against Darmstadt last weekend, Nathan Tella is vying for a starting position. Upfront, there’s a chance that Borja Iglesias, on loan from Real Betis, could replace Patrik Schick.
Bayern Munich Recent Form and Injury Updates
Bayern Munich faces a formidable challenge in their quest for a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title, courtesy of a strong performance by Leverkusen this season. Notably, the Bavarians have amassed the highest number of points (50) for a team in second place after 20 matches. They’ve outperformed their point total at this stage in the 2022-23 title-winning campaign by seven points. Additionally, Bayern Munich have scored a league-leading 59 goals so far.
In the Bayern Munich camp, Alphonso Davies sustained a knee injury last weekend, adding his name to the growing list of sidelined players, including Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Daniel Peretz, Tarek Buchmann, and Bouna Sarr.
Konrad Laimer and January acquisition Bryan Zaragoza will undergo assessments before kickoff. On a positive note, Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano returned to full training on Wednesday, raising hopes of their availability for the upcoming match. Additionally, Kim Min-jae is back in Germany and ready for selection after concluding his duties with South Korea at the Asian Cup.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Prediction and Free Betting Pick
I am anticipating a tactical affair between two clubs who are aiming to dictate the game flow and play to their strengths. Leverkusen has allowed the fewest goals in the league, conceding only 14 in 20 games, a tally that matches the club record set back in the 1989-90 season. Additionally, they lead the league with an impressive 10 clean sheets.
Additionally, both Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich have showcased aesthetically pleasing football in the German top flight this season, earning recognition as the most ‘slow and intricate’ in style in the Bundesliga. Among all the clubs, only two have maintained an average possession of 60% or higher in the competition, with Leverkusen leading with 62.6%, closely followed by Bayern at 61.6%. The Bundesliga is notoriously high-paced, but these numbers are high compared to the rest of Europe as well, indicating they are truly deliberate in playstyle.
While a risky proposition considering the talent and firepower both clubs possess, I find it hard to believe an asian total of 3.25 at near pick ’em odds is accurate. The first half should be mostly a feeling-out process, and if the score remains tied as the match exceeds the hour mark, I don’t expect either team to make a strong push. Bayern will accept a draw on the road, and Leverkusen will be cautious of conceding a late counter-attack against such a lethal offense.
Take the under here, but do not go in heavy-handed. A half unit play is what I suggest considering how a 2-1 lead could cause a losing side to act in desperation in hopes of recovering a point in such a critical match. This is a very contrarian play.
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