Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction, odds & betting tips – 03/03/2024

03/03/24 - 14:30

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Cologne - Bayer Leverkusen

Germany Bundesliga I - RheinEnergieStadion

Table-topping Bayer Leverkusen continue their pursuit of a first-ever league title when they visit Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday, March 3^rd. Read our top Bundesliga betting tips for the contest below.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions: Champions-elect to win again?

Title favourites Bayer Leverkusen have already navigated their two three biggest remaining tests of the Bundesliga campaign (vs Stuttgart & Bayern Munich) and with an eight-point gap to protect at the summit, Die Werkself are favoured to beat relegation candidates, Cologne.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Leverkusen dominating the markets

• HOME: 15/2 (8.50) – 11.8%
• DRAW: 15/4 (4.75) – 21.1%
• AWAY: 4/11 (1.36) – 73.3%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

Unsurprisingly, Bayer Leverkusen are odds-on favourites to prevail at Cologne and Xabi Alonso’s troops have won a sensational nine of their last ten assignments in the Bundesliga.

Last five H2Hs: Leverkusen to complete the double?

Germany Bundesliga I 08/10/23

Bayer Leverkusen

3

Cologne

0

Germany Bundesliga I 05/05/23

Bayer Leverkusen

1

Cologne

2

Germany Bundesliga I 09/11/22

Cologne

1

Bayer Leverkusen

2

Germany Bundesliga I 13/03/22

Bayer Leverkusen

0

Cologne

1

Germany Bundesliga I 24/10/21

Cologne

2

Bayer Leverkusen

2

Bayer Leverkusen galloped to a 3-0 win over Cologne in October and they are also unbeaten in three previous trips to the RheinEnergieStadion.

Team news and form guide

Cologne: Hosts lacking options in attack

Davie Selke, Luca Waldschmidt and Mark Uth are missing with various ailments while Damion Downs is also a doubt due to a head injury.

Predicted lineup: Schwabe – Carstensen, Kilian, Chabot, Finkgrafe – Martel, Huseinbasic, Ljubicic, Kainz, Diehl – Thielmann

Germany Bundesliga II 01/09/24

W

Schalke

1

Cologne

3

Germany Bundesliga II 24/08/24

W

Eintracht Braunschweig

0

Cologne

5

Germany DFB Pokal 18/08/24

W

Sandhausen

2

Cologne

3

Germany Bundesliga II 10/08/24

D

Elversberg

2

Cologne

2

Germany Bundesliga II 02/08/24

L

Hamburg

2

Cologne

1

Bayer Leverkusen: Key midfielder to return?

Victor Boniface is still out of contention for Leverkusen while back-up stopper Arthur is also out. Exequiel Palacios is nearing a return however, and could make a comeback on Sunday.

Predicted lineup: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo – Hofmann, Wirtz, Adli

Germany Bundesliga I 31/08/24

L

RB Leipzig

3

Bayer Leverkusen

2

Germany DFB Pokal 28/08/24

W

Carl Zeiss Jena

0

Bayer Leverkusen

1

Germany Bundesliga I 23/08/24

W

Borussia M'gladbach

2

Bayer Leverkusen

3

Germany Super Cup 17/08/24

W

VfB Stuttgart

2 (3)

Bayer Leverkusen

2 (4)

Elite Club Friendlies 10/08/24

D

Real Betis

1

Bayer Leverkusen

1

Our free expert picks: Leverkusen will be tough to stop

View our selection of other free betting tips which contain selections from other games across Europe’s top leagues ahead of the weekend.

Bayer Leverkusen are the bookies’ expected winners and the league leaders look like excellent value to score over 1.5 goals this weekend at a price of 4/9 (1.44). That outcome comes with an implied probability of 69.2%

Hot tip – Bayer Leverkusen to Win & Over 1.5 Goals

• Bayer Leverkusen have won nine of their last ten matches in the Bundesliga.
• 91% of Leverkusen’s league assignments this season have seen over 1.5 goals.

Other tips

Cologne 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

• Cologne scored one goal in three of their last five league games.
• Leverkusen notched twice in three of their last four Bundesliga fixtures.

Over 2.5 Goals

• Seven of the last eight meetings between these clubs have featured over 2.5 goals.
• Leverkusen’s Bundesliga matches have been averaging 3.26 goals per 90 this term.

Player to watch – Florian Wirtz

Clever attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz provided a match-winning assist last weekend in Bayer Leverkusen’s win over Mainz and the slick passer could be central to his team’s chances of success again on Sunday.

Wirtz can make a big contribution

Wirtz’s ability to part a defence with a pass has been a big part of Leverkusen’s gameplan this season and the talented 20-year-old could land his 11^th assist of an increasingly productive Bundesliga campaign on Sunday.