Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Park won’t be as noisy as usual when Bundesliga: Monchengladbach vs Bayer kicks off on Saturday, but fans around the country will be watching every second as two of the league’s best teams come head to head.
This is a mouth-watering clash between two sides which are vying for a Champions League place, and maybe even more. After the first round of results following the resumption in top-flight football, Monchengladbach leapfrogged Red Bull Leipzig into third place in the table, while Leverkusen is just two places and two points adrift in fifth.
Die Fohlen boss Marco Rose has built a team which attacks without fear, but they face a tough test against a side with one of the hottest properties in European football.
Talking Points
Borussia hunt in a pack
Monchengladbach were back with a bang last week with a 1-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and that puts them in a good place as they try to nail down a Champions League spot. Die Fohlen’s style is not dissimilar to Premier League runaway leaders’ Liverpool’s, getting the ball forward quickly to a trio of speedy forwards, supported by over-lapping wing-backs and a progressive midfield.
Top scorer Alassane Plea has nine goals and is well supported by Breel Embolo (seven), Marcus Thuram (seven) and Lars Stindl (six), as Rose encourages his team to attack in numbers.
Havertz has the world at his feet
Leverkusen have one of the most exciting talents in world football in Kai Havertz, their 20-year-old attacking midfield star. He is the youngest player to reach 100 games in the Bundesliga and has been given the captain’s armband already.
Havertz scored twice as Bayer blew Werder Bremen away with a 1-4 victory last week to take his league tally up to eight, and just one behind striker Kevin Volland. He has been involved in seven goals in his last five Bundesliga matches, and before the lockdown halted football in Germany, he had scored five goals and made five assists in eight appearances.
That level of consistency makes Havertz a natural skipper and he leads by example, taking the game away from Werder Bremen last week with two well-placed headers. He’s already been linked with a host of top European clubs, including European champions Liverpool. But Leverkusen head coach Peter Bosz will be keen to hold on to him, for another season at least.
Havertz is the complete player, good with both feet, quick off the mark, strong in the air and in the tackle. He’ll be the key attacking player for Die Werkself with main striker Volland likely to be out injured.
Midfield wiz kid Leon Bailey has also attracted attention from elsewhere, but having picked up two red cards this season has struggled to maintain momentum. He’s a handful when he’s on the pitch though.
History
In the 52 games played since 1992, Bayer have had the better of the Monchengladbach vs Leverkusen results, winning 23 to Die Fohlen’s 11 and there have been 18 draws.
Rose masterminded a 1-2 victory over Leverkusen in the return match in November, with Marcus Thuram grabbing the winner, but the last time the two sides met at Borussia Park, Bayer handed out a 0-5 thumping to their hosts in a 2018 DFB Pokal tie.
Both teams were bang in form before the break and started again where they left off. The hosts have lost only one of their last 11 home league matches, winning nine, while Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last nine games, including an impressive victory over Borussia Dortmund, and they are unbeaten in their last five away.
With so little to choose between the two sides, with some inevitability, the Monchengladbach vs Bayer betting odds are going to point to a hard-fought game.
Betting Tip
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Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen | 1X2 Draw @ 3.55 |
| May 23, 21:30 (GMT+8) |
The latest odds here at SBOBET have Monchengladbach marginal favourites at odds of 2.34 with Leverkusen at 2.63.
A win would take Leverkusen above their hosts. They have both lost six games this season but Borussia have won 16 to Die Werkself’s 15.
Leverkusen will go for the win and with Havertz in brilliant form they will cause Borussia problems; equally, the hosts will go on the attack from the off. The two teams have scored 101 league goals between them so we are unlikely to see a goalless draw.
For an alternative bet, 4-6 goals is available at 2.48, but I do think this game will finish in a high scoring draw; and for a score-line, 2-2 could turn out to be good value at 10.12.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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