Matches in the Bundesliga this season don't come much bigger than this as table toppers Bayer Leverkusen take on Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena on Sunday.
Xabi Alonso's side have made an incredible start to their 2023/24 domestic campaign and after 12 matches, remain undefeated and two points ahead of Bayern Munich at the summit of the German top-flight.
Their success has been built on solid foundations with their 37 goals netted across 12 matches ranking them as the second-best attack in the league, while at the other end of the pitch, Leverkusen have conceded just 10 goals in return.
BET ON BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND AT DRAFTKINGS HERE (US)
They'll have to be at their very best again here as Dortmund arrive in town looking to upset the apple cart and claim their own priceless in as they look to enter the title race. The visitors begin this round sat in fourth and enter this match after winning 3-1 away to AC Milan in the Champions League.
That result saw the former German champions qualify for the Round of 16 stage from what was described by many as the 'Group of Death' this campaign and here, they'll target three more points after beating Leverkusen twice in the Bundesliga last season.
The Sporting News previews the game below.
Leverkusen vs Dortmund match facts
- Date: Sunday, November 26, 2023
- Kickoff time: 5:30 p.m. local (12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: BayArena (Leverkusen, Germany)
- Last meeting: Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Borussia Dortmund (Jan, 29, 2023 | Bundesliga)
Leverkusen vs Dortmund prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Draw (+320)
- Score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
| LEV win |
Draw | DOR win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) |
-170 | +320 | +350 | -230 / +175 | -265 / +195 |
*Odds correct as on November 30.
Leverkusen vs Dortmund best bet
- Pick: Under 2.5 goals scored
- Odds: +195 (DraftKings)
Given that freescoring nature of Leverkusen in particular, this might be a crazy call but at +195, selecting the under 2.5 goals scored is definitely worth a gamble as it's hard remember the last time that bet carried so much value in a game.
Okay Leverkusen has scored 37 times in the league this campaign, 21 of which have come across their six league matches at BayArena – but Dortmund arrive here in strong form.
The visitors also seem to be a bit of a bogey team for Alonso's side as last season, the Black and Yellows were the only side in the league to beat Leverkusen in both head-to-head clashes during which they kept a clean sheet on each occasion.
Granted, Leverkusen have improved since then but with Dortmund also looking good in front of goal lately, the away side will find ways to limit Leverkusen again more than likely.
Leverkusen vs Dortmund flier bet
- Pick: Leverkusen 8+ shots on target and Ramy Bensebaini to be booked
- Odds: +700 (DraftKings)
With 195 attempts recorded in general through 12 Bundesliga matches this season (an average of 16.25 per match), Leverkusen have very much looked to attack at every opportunity.
Whether it's down the right or left wing, the hosts are stacked with attacking ability and have a number of players who additionally love to shoot from long range mixed into their squad. That leaves them likely to amass a hefty amount of shots on target again in this match, even against a Dortmund side who have looked stronger of late.
In terms of on target efforts, Alonso's side have recorded 89 through 12 matches for an average of 7.4 which leaves the 8+ selection a tasty proposition.
To take this selection to the next level, we've also tagged on a booking for visiting full-back Ramy Bensebaini. That's because he already has three yellows cards to his name after 10 Bundesliga matches this term, and as he comes up against Jeremie Frimpong, Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface here, he could struggle to stay out of the referee's notebook.