Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund preview
After 12 gameweeks there appears to be like 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 gained the final 11 titles, discover themselves in second place. The reason is the unbelievable resurgence of Bayer Leverkusen underneath the enigmatic Xabi Alonso.
Die Werkself are on an eight-game profitable streak and has but to lose sport this season. In reality, in addition they went to Allianz Area and got here away with the purpose, which showcases how arduous it’s for any workforce to beat them.
The subsequent workforce standing of their manner are Borussia Dortmund, who’ve made removed from an ideal begin within the league. Die Schwarzgelben are at present ten factors adrift of Leverkusen. Nevertheless, Dortmund usually are not a workforce 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 might be hoping that their Champions League exploits encourage his workforce to enhance their performances within the Bundesliga to get themselves again within the title race.
Nevertheless, it’s simpler stated than achieved towards a workforce that seems to do no fallacious. The workforce has performers all over the place within the squad reminiscent of 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 superb begin to the season, remaining undefeated for the primary 9 video games. Then got here the sport towards Bayern Munich, the place they misplaced 4-0 on the Sign Iduna Park and adopted it up with one other defeat towards VFB Stuttgart. These two defeats have severely harm Dortmund’s marketing campaign, and they’re going to 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 virtually injury-free squad, which provides Xabi Alonso lots of means to rotate his squad in a marketing campaign the place his workforce is combating for trophies on a number of fronts. With Dortmund a reputable challenger, Alonso will subject his strongest 11, which implies 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 big blow when midfielder Felix Nmecha sustained a hip damage which has dominated him out for the complete season; apart from that, solely centre-back Niklas Sule and Julien Duranville are out, which implies that Dortmund may also subject a robust facet on the BayArena. Gregor Kobel will begin in targets 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 sector 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 arduous 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 completely different competitions, which reveals that the membership nonetheless wants extra consistency and the power to win video games the place they don’t seem to be at their greatest, each qualities of a title-winning workforce.
Nevertheless, Bayer Leverkusen seem to have achieved no fallacious within the Bundesliga and the Europa League, the place they’ve gained 5 video games out of 5 to qualify for the knockout spherical. And with virtually their complete lineup in pristine type and the house crowd help, it appears to be like like a sure Leverkusen victory.
FootTheBall predicts a 3-1 win for Bayer Leverkusen.
