Bayer Leverkusen will welcome top-four rivals RB Leipzig to Bay Arena this Sunday as both sides battle for three points that will set them on course for a top-four finish.
After a terrible start to their season that saw them meddle with relegation, Leverkusen are fully in the top-five race thanks to a change of fortune under Xabi Alonso.
The hosts come into this tie in good form and will be keen to continue that run here after progressing to a European semi-final for the first time since 2001/02 in midweek.
They will swiftly turn their attention back to the Bundesliga race for Europe. They entered this round six points adrift of the top five, so their most likely finish will be a Conference League place unless they can eat up the ground.
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But confidence should be high ahead of this game after Leverkusen’s seven-game unbeaten Bundesliga run (W5, D2). However, extending that run here could be tricky as they are yet to win a Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig (D3, L3).
The visitors could do Leverkusen a favour further down the line if they win the DFB Pokal and extend the European places to seventh. However, the more pressing matter for themselves is to cling to their top-four place.
Marco Rose’s side entered this round with just a one-point buffer to fifth, but with Freiburg playing at home to Schalke just before kick-off here, they may need maximum points to reclaim the fourth spot.
They travel to BayArena with a good record against Leverkusen. Yet, Marco Rose’s personal record against Leverkusen doesn’t inspire much confidence, with four losses and three wins in seven meetings.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen have scored a Bundesliga-high 15 goals in the 15 minutes directly following half-time this season.
That said, we can expect BTTS/GG here, given that only one of Leverkusen’s last eight home matches have featured a clean sheet.Click here for sure home win prediction.
