Kaiserslautern vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions: Alonso’s men to bounce back
- Bayer Leverkusen won by two clear goals in 13 Bundesliga matches this season
- The German champions beat Fortuna Dusseldorf 4-0 in the previous round
- Recommended bet: Bayer Leverkusen -2.5 handicap
Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season fell apart in Dublin, as Atalanta beat them 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
It has still been a season to toast for Xabi Alonso’s side, however, as they have already celebrated lifting a first Bundesliga title.
They can now add more silverware on Saturday when they host second-tier Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal final.
Team news
Xabi Alonso is likely to reshuffle his pack from the side which started the Europa League final defeat on Wednesday. Neither Victor Boniface nor Patrik Schick started up front in a surprise change, so expect one of those two to replace Amine Adli up top.
As for Kaiserslautern, they are unlikely to make too many changes following a 5-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig last weekend.
The stats
Only one of Kaiserslautern’s five games in this competition have come against a Bundesliga side.
Leverkusen have scored 23 goals and conceded only five on their way to the final.
The German champions beat the Bundesliga’s bottom three sides 21-1 across their six encounters this season.
Kaiserslautern lost by three goals or more on four occasions in the second tier this term.
Leverkusen finished the Bundesliga campaign with three wins, scoring 12 times.
Kaiserslautern lost 12 of 18 league meetings with the top nine in 2. Bundesliga
Prediction
Leverkusen’s unfortunate misstep just two games from history should not undo the positivity surrounding their incredible campaign.
They have already made it a season to remember and completing a league and cup double would ensure this is easily their most successful campaign, with optimism for what is to come.
Leverkusen are heavy favourites for this clash. That is hardly a surprise, as even a late rally could only take this Kaiserslautern side to 13th in the second division. They lost 12 of their 18 league meetings with sides in the top-half, so they appear to be out of their depth.
Kaiserslautern’s cup run has been fantastic, but it is worth noting that they have not exactly been giant killers. Of their five games in the Pokal, just one came against Bundesliga opposition. They dispatched a Cologne side that went on to be relegated from the top-flight, alongside victories over third and fifth-tier opposition.
Kaiserslautern also beat two midtable sides from their own division to reach this point, so they do not have the kind of track record to scare the champions.
This Leverkusen side dispatched poor teams frequently in the league, claiming 13 victories by three goals or more. They racked up 21 goals across six meetings with the bottom three, while they scored 23 times in five games to reach the cup final.
Leverkusen saw off a Fortuna Dusseldorf outfit that finished third in 2. Bundesliga 4-0 in the last round. With weaker opposition up next, the value here lies with them clearing a two-goal handicap.
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