Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund
There is more than enough reason for the ever-faithful fans of Borussia Dortmund to look forward to their upcoming Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
They just came off probably one of their most dominating performances in recent memory, reminding everyone that they are serious contenders to break the Bayern Munich hegemony, placing themselves in a very comfortable third place. Moreover, their rivals just suffered a huge knock on their title defence.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen are just getting things rolling. They have ended their three-game rut with a winning streak of their own. However, it is important to note that their recent victories weren’t as easy as what the final score suggests.
Heiko Herrlich knows that Lucien Favre’s BVB will be tough customers that will be hard to contain on any given day. He should also know that a team that could be looking beyond the game is a rather easy side to beat.
This game could either be a stepping stone for the BVB or a rock that would trip them up if they’re not careful.
Talking Points
Before we proceed to any other point, let me get this off my chest: Borussia Dortmund’s 7-0 dismantling of new boys Nurnberg is nothing short of amazing and was easily the biggest Bundesliga 2018 news among the midweek games. Games of that sort don’t come often, and it’s always big news when such a landmark game happens this early in the season.
Many of Dortmund’s key players had their hand on the one-sided onslaught, but Marco Reus’ brace was the most significant statistic among the countless ribbons that can be identified in Dortmund’s game. The 29-year-old captain reached his 100th goal with the BVB after finishing his second goal into the bottom-right corner.
Of course, he isn’t the only man that Herrlich should be wary of. Christian Pulisic is quickly growing to become one of the best young talents in Europe, and the American had a hand in Dortmund’s first goal against Nurnberg.
The American wasn’t the only outstanding youngster among the BVB roster. Jadon Sancho, the young Englishman who is making waves at his home country with his potential, also scored his first goal in this game. There’s no way to go for the Englishman but up, and Premier League sides are probably salivating at the opportunity of acquiring the Dortmund product.
It’s no wonder many clubs fear Dortmund due to the divine mix of promising youth and superb veteran talent available for the Swiss tactician to play around with. They are currently living up to the high pre-season expectations set upon them by fans and pundits, and there’s no reason to believe that they have the ability to finally break Bayern’s yearly monopoly of the Bundesliga crown.
However, it isn’t like Bayer Leverkusen will just roll out the red carpet and let them score more than five goals. This is a proud club that was once competing for the top of the table just a couple of years ago. The BayArena expects a quality game from their stars, and that’s exactly what Die Werkself will try to supply.
Sure, they may not have the core that rattled the Bundesliga’s SBOBET fans a couple of years back, but they have more than enough talent to put up a good fight. Dominik Kohr is at the heart of the Bayer midfield. Kevin Volland is still banging in goals like nobody’s business. Leon Bailey is an effective attack option from the wings. Paulinho, who was brought in for €16.65 million, is a future stud that is getting playing time from Herrlich.
The most eye-catching player in this team is also their second-youngest player. Kai Havertz is an outstanding youngster that already has a goal and assist under his belt at 19 years of age. Havertz, who has made his debut for the senior side just recently, is in the middle of a hype storm and is already anticipated as one of the most exciting young Germans to grace the professional stage.
If Havertz manages to play his usual game, there should be no problem for Leverkusen to try and pry away a point.
History
The head-to-head history between the two sides is rather interesting. They have played 78 games in total, and Dortmund have only won 29 of those games. Leverkusen are not far behind with their 27 victories, and the remaining 22 ended in a draw.
However, it’s the most recent games that are most titillating to the stat-heavy fanatic. Borussia Dortmund won four of their last six matches, including a 0-1 away win at the BayArena. While Leverkusen did win their October 2016 clash with Dortmund, that was their only win their last 11 home league matches against Dortmund.
Betting Tip
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund | Asian Handicap Dortmund -0.25 @ 2.19 | |
September 30, 00:30 (GMT+8) |
This will surely be a close match, as predicted by the pre-game Bundesliga 2018 odds. The BVB have struggled to win against Di Werkself at the BayArena over the past couple of games. Moreover, the quality showcased by Kai Havertz is not something to scoff at.
However, it is also important to remember that Dortmund also have quality youngsters of their own that can compete with the best of them. They also have the advantage when it comes to the number of quality players. We haven’t even talked about Axel Witsel, Paco Alcacer, Lukasz Piszczek, and Manuel Akanji.
I am more than confident in Dortmund’s ability to close this game, and there’s no reason for SBOBET fans to not go for them as well. I am sure that they will end the weekend at the top of the Bundesliga table.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH: | |||
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= €20 (Highly confident) | = €10 (CONFIDENT) | = €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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