RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions: Bayer to hit title charge stumbling block
- Leverkusen’s three draws have all come against top five teams
- Leipzig were beaten 3-2 in the reverse fixture
- Recommended bet: Tie with goals
Undoubtedly the pick of the weekend’s Bundesliga fixtures sees top of the table Bayer Leverkusen travel to fourth placed RB Leipzig in the late kick-off on Saturday.
Leipzig ended 2023 with four wins and a draw, but started the New Year with a home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, missing the opportunity to go third in the table.
Leverkusen are still unbeaten in all competitions and continued this impressive feat with a last gasp winner at mid-table Augsburg last weekend.
Team news
Leipzig coach Marco Rose will be without Amadou Haidara as he continues his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali, whilst club captain Willi Orban could return from injury in time to feature as his recovery from a torn knee ligament nears completion.
Defender Lukas Klostermann recently signed a four year contract extension and could feature on Saturday, whilst top scorer Lois Openda is also expected to feature.
Xabi Alonso has a trio of international absentees to contend with, as Ivory Coast’s Odilon Kossounou, Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba and Moroccan winger Amine Adli all represent their nations on the African continental stage.
The Spaniard will also be without full-back Arthur as well as top goal scorer Victor Boniface, who sustained a groin injury earlier this month and is not expected to return until April.
The stats
Leipzig’s loss to Frankfurt was the first time that they had started a calendar year with a defeat in the Bundesliga.
This was their first home league defeat of the season, as well as being the first time that the Red Bulls had failed to score at the Red Bull arena since October.
Leverkusen’s fantastic campaign has seen them accrue 45 points at the halfway stage of the season.
Only Bayern Munich have bettered this tally back between 2013 and 2016; when Alonso was still playing at the Bavarian club.
The Black and Reds have found the back of the net 18 times on the road in the league this season, a tally that is only bettered by perennial winners Bayern.
Prediction
Leipzig’s recent stutter in form has coincided with a sudden sharp decline in clinicality in front of goal, with Marco Rose’s men scoring twice from 46 total shots across their last two games.
They will require an improvement in this metric if they are to get anything from a Leverkusen side that has conceded just 12 goals in all competitions.
Leverkusen have dropped points in just three games all season in the Bundesliga, but these have been score draws to fellow top five clubs Bayern Munich, Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund, while Alonso’s men edged Leipzig on the opening day 3-2.
Another close encounter is expected, with Leverkusen’s habit of scoring in level games likely to continue on Saturday.
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