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Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig meet at the BayArena on Sunday with both clubs still adjusting to new managers, although the hosts arrive with the added confidence of a midweek Europa League victory.
Carles Martinez's side rescued a point at Augsburg before beating Celje 2-0 in a midweek European fixture, while Martin Demichelis saw his team respond to successive away defeats by putting five past Hamburg.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig key stats
- Leverkusen have scored at least twice in each of their last seven meetings with Leipzig.
- Seven of Leipzig's last eight Bundesliga away games have produced over 2.5 goals with both teams scoring.
- Leverkusen have lost only one of their last nine Bundesliga matches at the BayArena, recording five wins and three draws during that run.
- Both teams have scored in the last six meetings between these sides.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig preview: Two new projects meet at the BayArena
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig — Tale of the Tape
| Bayer Leverkusen | vs | RB Leipzig |
|---|---|---|
| 7th | Position | 5th |
| 4 | Points | 6 |
| 8 | Goals For | 9 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 3 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
| 7th | Home / Away Rank | 13th |
Leverkusen's first three Bundesliga fixtures have already illustrated the uncertainty that can accompany a managerial change.
Martinez's team opened with a 3-2 defeat at Elversberg before responding with a 4-0 home win over Union Berlin, then needed a late Patrik Schick equaliser to draw 2-2 at Augsburg.
The midweek Europa League opener provided another positive step, as an own goal and Facundo Medina's second-half strike secured a 2-0 victory over Celje, making it three straight games without defeat for Die Werkself.
Leverkusen can also draw encouragement from their record at the BayArena, having lost just one of their last nine home Bundesliga games, while their most recent meeting with Leipzig on this ground ended in a commanding 4-1 victory, with Schick scoring a hat-trick.
The hosts do have some absentees to manage heading into this game, with Montrell Culbreath and Kennet Eichhorn unavailable, while Nathan Tella is also sidelined.
Guela Doue has additionally been ruled out after suffering a calf problem in training, while Eliesse Ben Seghir is considered doubtful with a hamstring issue.
Leipzig's start under Demichelis has been considerably more dramatic, opening their Bundesliga campaign with a 3-0 home victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, before following that with a 3-1 defeat at Werder Bremen and then a 4-1 Champions League loss at Como.
Their response against Hamburg was emphatic, however, with Leipzig winning 5-0 at the Red Bull Arena, as Antonio Nusa opened the scoring before Timo Gomis, Willi Orban, Christopher Nkunku and Romulo completed the rout.
That attacking potential is not new – before the Hamburg game, the Red Bulls had registered the most shots in the Bundesliga after two matchdays and also led the division for expected goals, and their nine league goals after three rounds put them among the competition's highest scorers.
The concern is what happens when Leipzig are away from home, having lost their last three Bundesliga away matches, while their previous road trip ended in the heavy defeat at Como.
The contrast with their home record makes Sunday's return to the BayArena particularly interesting, especially against a Leverkusen side that has traditionally been difficult to beat on this ground.
Demichelis will also be without Christoph Baumgartner, Assan Ouedraogo, Rocco Reitz, and Marc Guiu, leaving Leipzig with fewer options as they attempt to carry their Hamburg performance into a much tougher away fixture.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig form guide & betting tips
| Bayer Leverkusen | vs | RB Leipzig |
|---|---|---|
L
W
D
|
Form | W
L
W
|
| 4 | Points | 6 |
| 7th | Form Table | 5th |
| 8 | Goals For | 9 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 3 |
W
L
W
D
W |
Form (All Comps) | W
W
L
L
W
|
Whispers predicts: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 RB Leipzig
The both teams to score selection at 1.37 (37/100) is the clearest route into this fixture, with Leipzig's recent away matches regularly producing goals and Leverkusen having scored in every Bundesliga game this season.
The goals market is similarly difficult to ignore, with over 2.5 goals at 1.36 (9/25). Seven of Leipzig's last eight away league games have cleared that line while also seeing both teams score, and all their games this season have produced over 2.5 goals.
Given the form of both teams, backing a draw at 3.75 (11/4) looks good value.
> Over 2.5 goals at 1.36 (9/25) | Likelihood: Likely
> Both teams to score at 1.37 (37/100) | Likelihood: Likely
> Match result — Draw at 3.75 (11/4) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score — Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 RB Leipzig at 9.00 (8/1) | Likelihood: Outsider