German and Dutch giants go head-to-head in the Champions League this Wednesday night, as Bayer Leverkusen welcome PSV Eindhoven to the BayArena for a tasty European encounter.
Both teams are still on the hunt for their first win in the competition, with Leverkusen being held to a 2-2 draw by Copenhagen on matchday one and PSV enduring a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
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Bayer Leverkusen vs PSV Eindhoven prediction: Goals, goals, goals
Key stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have seen both teams score in their last six competitive games.
- PSV have also followed a similar trend, with seven of their last nine competitive matches seeing both teams on the scoresheet.
- PSV have kept a clean sheet in two of their last 25 UEFA fixtures.
Correct score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 PSV Eindhoven
During these early weeks of the new season, both teams have underlined their goal scoring abilities, as well as their defensive vulnerabilities.
Leverkusen, who are already on their second manager this season, have only lost one of their seven competitive matches this season, with new boss Kasper Hjulmand unbeaten in his first four – a run which includes two wins.
PSV, on the other hand, started the new campaign like a house on fire, though their strong run of form came to a halt in recent weeks following a couple of defeats to Telstar and Royale Union.
Champions League betting offer of the day
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bayer Leverkusen heavy favourites
- HOME: 83/100 (1.83) – 54.6%
- DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6 %
- AWAY: 11/4 (3.75) – 26.7%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
As shown by the implied 54.6% probability, Bayer Leverkusen are favoured by bookmakers to win on home soil. PSV EIndhoven can be backed at just 26.7% to emerge victorious on their travels, while a draw is rated at 25.6%.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page, as well as our Champions League predictions & betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Mixed bag
You have to go back three decades in order to find the last competitive head-to-head encounter between these two clubs.
During the 1994/95 campaign, Leverkusen and PSV clashed in the first round of the old UEFA Cup. The first game in Germany ended in a thrilling 5-4 win for the hosts, while the replay in Eindhoven ended up in a goalless draw.
Bayer Leverkusen preview: German giants hit with key injuries
Leverkusen have been hit with a couple of significant injuries, with captain Robert Andrich forced to come off injured at half-time over the weekend, while Patrik Schick was replaced near the end with a suspected hamstring injury. With that in mind, both men are expected to join Exequiel Palacios (groin injury, also ineligible), Martin Terrier (Achilles) and Nathan Tella (knee) on the sidelines.
Malik Tillman has scored two Bundesliga goals since moving to Leverkusen from PSV in the summer, and the American will hope to face old friends on Wednesday.
Predicted lineup: Flekken (GK), Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba, Tape-Kobrissa, Garcia, Fernandez, Grimaldo, Tillman, Ben Seghir & Kofane
Last five results:
- St Pauli 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
- Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
- FC Copenhagen 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
- Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
- Werder Bremen 3-3 Bayer Leverkusen
PSV Eindhoven preview: Peasants missing fire power
Ruben van Bommel scored on matchday one, but the PSV attacker has since suffered a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.
The Peasants' forward will join Alassane Plea (knee), Myron Boadu (hamstring), Kiliann Sildillia (thigh) and possibly Sergino Dest, on the sidelines.
Predicted lineup: Kovar (GK), Junior, Flamingo, Gasiorowski, Obispo, Schouten, Saibari, Veerman, Wanner, Til & Perisic
Last five results:
- Excelsior 1-2 PSV Eindhoven
- PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Ajax Amsterdam
- PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Royale Union
- Nijmegen 3-5 PSV Eindhoven
- PSV EIndhoven 0-2 Telstar
Player to watch: Malik Tillman
American midfielder Malik Tillman made the switch from PSV to Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, and he now gets the chance to take on his old employers on the biggest stage in European football.
The 23-year-old has scored two goals in his last five appearances, including a key goal in the 1-1 draw with Monchengladbach a fortnight ago.