Bundesliga: Bayer back to Bunda Businesses

RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen

Fifth hosts second in the Bundesliga clash of the weekend as Red Bull Leipzig welcome Bayer Leverkusen for a potentially seismic top flight clash at the Red Bull Arena.   

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer are making a charge in their title defence, beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 last time out; but Die Werkself went down to a last minute defeat in the Champions League to Atletico Madrid in midweek and, while they still have a very good chance of progressing automatically, they have work to do which they could have avoided. They will be ready to take to out their frustration and Die Roten Bullen are standing in their way.      

Marco Rose’s Leipzig have a Champions League game at home to Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night so they have a day less to prepare; and they drew 3-3 with Bochum last week, a result which left them a point behind Stuttgart in fourth and ten points behind Bayer. Die Werkself are hot on the heels of Bayern Munich, just four points behind the Bavarians and the SBOTOP Bundesliga 2025 odds price Alonso’s men at 6.00 to repeat their triumph of 2024. With Bayern facing a difficult trip to Freiburg on Saturday a win for Leverkusen could blow the title race wide open.

Talking Points

Sesko and Openda back for Red Bull

After missing the draw with Bochum, due to suspension, Red Bull’s strike pair of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda were available for selection for Wednesday’s Champions League clash and they can also return for the league clash with Leverkusen. They were both sent off with two yellow cards late on a recent 2-1 defeat to Vfb Stuttgart and, as two yellows means a one match suspension, the pair, who have scored eight league goals each, can link up again on Saturday.

Xavi Simons played up front against Bochum and veteran forward Yussuf Poulsen made an appearance from the bench, while Red Bull relied heavily on advanced midfielder Christoph Baumgartner and wide man David Raum to provide an attacking threat. The return of Sesko and Openda gives Red Bull a boost, but the club is also bracing itself for approaches during the transfer window, with Premier League title chasers Arsenal reported to be monitoring Sesko in their keen pursuit of a ready made striker. He has struck up a potent partnership with Openda and so Rose will hope to keep the two together for the second half of the campaign.     

At the other end of the pitch Red Bull’s defence, marshalled by skipper Willi Orban, will have their work cut out on Saturday. The Hungarian centre back is a powerful figure and a threat from set pieces in attack, scoring against Bochum, and alongside Lukas Klostermann he will do all he can to keep Bayer’s attacking force under control.  

Off night for Bayer in Madrid

After a winning run of ten matches in all competitions Die Werkself came a cropper in Spain on Tuesday night in a game they had by the scruff of the neck, playing more than an hour against ten men after Pablo Barrios had been red carded for a horrible tackle on Jeremie Frimpong. Bayer were frustrated by Atleti keeper Jan Oblak until Piero Hincapie headed home in first half injury time. But a second half brace from Julian Alvarez, the winner on 90 minutes, sent Bayer home empty handed and, to make matters worse Hincapie also received his marching orders.    

League top scorer Patrick Schick has been in fine form with 12 league goals so far but he started on the bench against Los Rojiblancos, with Nathan Tella making a start. Schick will return to the starting eleven on Saturday alongside attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz who remains the man who dominates the Bundesliga 2025 news headlines with nine goals and nine assists in the league.

Alonso will be busy in the transfer market where he’ll be looking for a long term replacement for Wirtz, who is courted by just about every top club in Europe. But a more urgent situation is on the wing, where Martin Terrier will be missing after he was injured in the win over Die Fohlen.      

This is a strong and well established squad though Borussia Dortmund gave Die Werkself a good test recently, Alonso’s team winning by the odd goal in three; and our Red Bull Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen betting tips reckon Red Bull could go the same way as Die Schwarzgelben.   

History

With eight wins to five Red Bull have had the better of Bayer in their head to heads and they won the return game in Leverkusen 3-2, on the second weekend of the current campaign; but the Champions started slowly and are in much better form now.    

Leipzig are strong at home with five wins, two draws and one loss in the league at the Red Bull Arena while Leverkusen are even stronger away from home, winning five and drawing three on the road. And, despite the loss in Madrid Bayer’s recent form is stronger, with five wins from the last six while Red Bull Leipzig have managed just two wins, drawing one and losing three.  

Betting Tip

All three results are well in play here with Red Bull Leipzig priced at 3.24 to win and 3.43 to draw against the title hopefuls. But, with an extra day to prepare and better form, I expect Die Werkself to do the job in Leipzig. 

 

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