Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig prediction, odds & betting tips – 31/08/2024

Bayer Leverkusen lock horns with RB Leipzig at the BayArena in a showpiece Bundesliga showdown on Saturday, 31 August. Read our German football tips for the clash below.

Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig prediction: Goals possible at the BayArena

Key Stats

• Five goals hit the net in each of Bayer Leverkusen’s two meetings with RB Leipzig last season.
• Leverkusen beat Die Roten Bullen 3-2 twice in a row last term.
• Lois Openda scored both home and away against Bayer Leverkusen last season.
• 82% of Leverkusen’s home games in the Bundesliga last season featured at least three goals.

Correct score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 RB Leipzig

Bayer Leverkusen nicked a 3-2 win at Gladbach last weekend – a scoreline they matched in each of their two clashes with RB Leipzig last term. Another thriller could be in the works when these adventurous outfits clash on Saturday.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Markets favour Leverkusen

• HOME: 4/5 (4.00) – 55.6%
• DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
• AWAY: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

In typical style, champions Bayer Leverkusen scored with the last kick of the game to win at Gladbach last weekend and Die Werkself have been priced as 4/5 favourites to make it two wins from two against Leipzig on Saturday evening.

RB Leipzig eked out a 1-0 win in a tough test against Bochum last weekend, though they were beaten twice by Leverkusen last term and will kick off Saturday’s game as 3/1 underdogs ahead of the teams’ latest clash. View more of our latest football predictions on our dedicated page.

Most recent H2Hs: Leverkusen chasing fourth straight win

Bayer Leverkusen have beaten RB Leipzig three times in a row and Die Werkself haven’t lost against Die Roten Bullen since October 2022.

Germany Bundesliga I 20/01/24

RB Leipzig

2

Bayer Leverkusen

3

Germany Bundesliga I 19/08/23

Bayer Leverkusen

3

RB Leipzig

2

Germany Bundesliga I 23/04/23

Bayer Leverkusen

2

RB Leipzig

0

Germany Bundesliga I 29/10/22

RB Leipzig

2

Bayer Leverkusen

0

Germany Bundesliga I 17/04/22

Bayer Leverkusen

0

RB Leipzig

1

Bayer Leverkusen preview: Palacios is Bayer’s only absentee

Exequiel Palacios is still out of action and isn't expected to return to the fold until November. Bayer Leverkusen were close to dropping points in their Bundesliga opener before a contentious penalty decision allowed them to steal a victory at Gladbach.

Predicted lineup: Hradecky (GK), Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo, Hofmann, Wirtz, Boniface

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

RB Leipzig preview: Suspended Orban a big loss

El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager are out injured for Leipzig while Willi Orban, who was sent off in last week's win over Bochum, is suspended. Attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner is a doubt with a knee issue.

Predicted lineup: Gulacsi (GK), Simakan, Klostermann, Lukeba, Raum, Seiwald, Kampl, Haidara, Simons, Openda, Sesko

Germany Bundesliga I 31/08/24

W

Bayer Leverkusen

2

RB Leipzig

3

Germany Bundesliga I 24/08/24

W

Bochum

0

RB Leipzig

1

Germany DFB Pokal 17/08/24

W

Rot-Weiss Essen

1

RB Leipzig

4

Elite Club Friendlies 10/08/24

D

PSG

1

RB Leipzig

1

Elite Club Friendlies 03/08/24

L

Wolverhampton

3

RB Leipzig

0

Player to watch – Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz is a talismanic figure for Bayer Leverkusen and the attacking midfielder produced the goods when his team needed him most again last weekend.

Wirtz is a potential match winner

Wirtz had already scored once for Bayer Leverkusen in last week’s clash with Gladbach, though he provided the game’s defining moment in injury time. Wirtz failed to convert a contentious penalty kick in the 100^th minute against Die Fohlen, but he swept home the rebound to spare his blushes and to win the contest for the champions.