Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig
The battle for Champions League spots is heating up. We only have three matchdays remaining in the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign, and Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, who will square off at the BayArena this Saturday evening, are among those who are jockeying for positions.
As of this writing, RB Leipzig have the edge over Bayer Leverkusen. Ole Werner’s side is third in the German top-flight table with 62 points, five points ahead of fourth-seeded VfB Stuttgart and fifth-seeded Hoffenheim. But Bayer Leverkusen are not far behind, as they’re sixth in the standings with 55 points.
RB Leipzig are among the most in-form teams in the league today, alongside reigning champions Bayern Munich. Bayer Leverkusen are not chopped liver themselves, as Kasper Hjulmand’s men are unbeaten in four of their last five league games.
Learn more about these two teams, courtesy of today’s SBOTOP match preview.
Talking Points
Schick is too slick for Bayer Leverkusen
Following their DFB-Pokal semi-final exit at the hands of Bayern Munich (2-0), Bayer Leverkusen bounced back with a 2-1 win over Koln in the Rhine derby, as Patrik Schick completed a brace before Luca Waldschmidt scored a consolation goal for the Billy Goats.
Schick now has 13 Bundesliga goals across 25 appearances this season, making him Die Werkself’s leading scorer in the German top-flight for a second consecutive campaign. With him leading the way, Bayer Leverkusen have now scored in their last nine Bundesliga games – their longest run of games with a goal since a run of 13 between April and October 2025.
Against RB Leipzig, Schick is expected to stay at the No. 9 spot, with Nathan Tella and Ibrahim Maza backing him up in the final third. Montrell Culbreath and Alejandro Grimaldo – their top playmaker with seven assists – will provide width, while Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios will form the double pivot. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Edmond Tapsoba will also play a crucial role as one of their three centre-backs. Because he has played well this season, having featured 41 times, Tapsoba is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen beyond 2028.
RB Leipzig firing on all cylinders
RB Leipzig have consolidated their Top 3 spot because of their five-game winning streak. During their unbeaten run, Die Roten Bullen have scored 14 goals while conceding only three. Brajan Gruda, Christoph Baumgartner, Antonio Nusa, Romulo Cardoso, and Yan Diomande had two goals each, while Benjamin Henrichs, Conrad Harder, Max Finkgrafe, and Ridle Baku have one goal apiece.
Head coach Ole Werner also deserves credit for turning RB Leipzig into a machine, as they’ve only conceded 38 goals so far this term. They also lead the way by some distance in duels won (3,278), and are also first for shots against post and bar (17), and second for total sprints (5,388).
History
Bayer Leverkusen won 3-1 in their opening league fixture against RB Leipzig last December at the Red Bull Arena, as Martin Terrier, Patrik Schick, and Montrell Culbreath were on the scoresheet for Die Werkself, while Xaver Schlager prevented a shutout loss for Die Roten Bullen.
RB Leipzig travel to BayArena on their best league winning streak in three years (W5), as they move closer to securing their Champions League return next term. Only Bayern Munich have a longer winning streak (W8). However, their run will face a stern test, as five of their seven league losses this term came against sides beginning the new matchday in the Top 6.
Bayer Leverkusen aren’t exactly great at home, as they’ve won only one of their last seven games at the BayArena (D4, L2). However, Die Werkself have (at least) scored in every single Bundesliga home game this campaign.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2026 odds predict a tight contest between Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. Because they’re playing at home, Bayer Leverkusen have the slight edge at 2.16, while RB Leipzig aren’t far behind at 2.77, and a draw is at 3.60 in the 1X2 market.
Their recent encounters have been full of goals, and this Saturday shouldn’t be any different. Football fans and punters can expect their share of new Bundesliga 2026 highlights, making Over 3.25 at 1.78, Over 3.75 at 2.23, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.26 viable alternatives to add to the parlay. Moreover, the Correct Score of 3-1 in favour of Bayer Leverkusen – the result of the reverse fixture – offers a handsome payday of 14.50 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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