Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig Odds
Bundesliga Match of the Weekend
Leipzig Start Season off With Silverware
Two of the Bundesliga’s best teams will kick off the 2023-24 season on Saturday as Bayer Leverkusen host RB Leipzig. Bayer Leverkusen have backed managed Xabi Alonso in the Summer with a number of new signings. RB Leipzig have lost some of their best players this Summer but also brought in many players. Leipzig downed Bayern Munich 3-0 in the DFL-Supercup and are a potential contender in the Bundesliga this season. In a blockbuster season opener, we’ll go through the Leverkusen vs. Leipzig betting odds.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig
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Head-to-Head
RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen met for the first time in 2016, and Leipzig lead the series 7-4-3. Last season, they split their meetings as the home side won 2-0 in each match. Leipzig have lost just two of the last ten Bundesliga games they’ve played. Seven of the last eight meetings have finished with two goals or fewer.
Leverkusen Could Compete on All Fronts in 2023-24
- Last Season: 14-8-12, 6th
- Key Offseason Additions: D Alex Grimaldo, D Arthur, M Granit Xhaka, F Jonas Hofmann, F Victor Boniface
Bayer Leverkusen had their worst start ever to a Bundesliga campaign in the 2022-23 season. Under Gerardo Seaone, Leverkusen won just one of their first eight matches. They were second from the bottom of the table when Xabi Alonso took over as coach. Alonso, who was a star player for Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, has transformed Bayer Leverkusen.
They started the new year in 12th place but finished the season in sixth and make the Europa League semifinals. Leverkusen failed to win any of their last five Bundesliga matches, but they enter this season on a high note. In the DFB-Pokal first round, they destroyed Teutonia Ottensen 8-0 as a pair of new signings got on the scoresheet. Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann both scored, along with five other players. Boniface and Hofmann could be impact signings, while Granit Xhaka and Alex Grimaldo are poised to play significant roles.
Bayer Leverkusen also have a number of exciting young talents. Attacking midfielder, Florian Wirtz is one of the best youngsters in German football. Meanwhile, Amine Adli, Piero Hincapie and Jeremie Frimpong both played huge roles for Bayer last season. It’s an exciting time to be a Leverkusen fan, as they could challenge in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Europa League this season.
As they kick off their Bundesliga campaign, the Leverkusen vs. Leipzig betting odds list Bayer as very slight favorites. Improving Bayer Leverkusen’s home form will be a big priority for Xabi Alonso this season. They went 8-3-6 there last season but should be better this season as they’re one of the Bundesliga’s best teams on paper.
High Expectations for RB Leipzig Despite Departures
- Last Season: 20-6-8, 3rd Bundesliga
- Key Offseason Additions: D El Chadaille Bitshiabu, D Castello Lukeba, M Xavi Simons, M Fabio Carvalho, M Nicolas Seiwald, M Christoph Baumgartner, F Benjamin Sesko, F Lois Openda
If last Saturday was a sign of things to come this season, RB Leipzig could be a force to be reckoned with. Leipzig sold Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai and Josko Gvardiol in the Summer but still managed to beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the DFL-Supercup. Dani Olmo, whose 2022-23 campaign was punctuated by injury, scored a hat trick vs. the Bavarians. Despite losing three of their star players, RB Leipzig is expected to be one of the best Bundesliga teams this season.
Last year, they finished just five points behind title-winners Bayern Munich and won their last five Bundesliga matches. This time around, Leipzig show +1200 odds to win their first-ever Bundesliga title. Sure, they’ve lost a lot of players, but they’ve signed intriguing replacements. Lois Openda scored 21 goals for Lens last season in Ligue 1 and is a member of the Belgium national team. He should soften the blow of losing Nkunku.
Shortly after Leipzig sold Gvardiol to Manchester City, they brought in fellow center back Castello Lukeba. Plus, a healthy Olmo and Christoph Baumgartner can seamlessly fill the hole left behind by Szoboszlai. They’ve also sealed loan deals for exciting young talents Fabio Carvalho and Xavi Simons. The sky’s the limit for RB Leipzig this season, even after some high-profile departures.
Match Analysis & Odds
Bayer Leverkusen come into this match, having lost just three of their last 21 competitive matches. In all competitions, 2023 DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup winners RB Leipzig are currently on an eight-match winning streak. So, this is shaping up to be a superb Bundesliga opener.
Both sides are dealing with a few injuries, though. Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick, who scored 24 goals in 2021-22, has a groin injury that should keep him out until September. Sardar Azmoun and Piero Hincapie are also out for Xabi Alonso’s side. Meanwhile, Leipzig will likely be missing El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Peter Gulacsi and Amadou Haidara for this one.
Regardless, the Leverkusen vs. Leipzig betting odds list this as a pick’em. Bayer Leverkusen pk displays -112 odds, while RB Leipzig pk shows -102 odds. Leipzig’s road form prevented them from contending for the title last season, as they won just seven of the 17 Bundesliga road games. Marco Rose’s side are also +185 underdogs for this one.
Betting on any three-way moneyline outcome in this match would be reasonable, as Bayer Leverkusen are priced at +155 moneyline odds and a draw displays +255 odds. None of the last three meetings between these sides have finished with more than two goals. Onder 2.5 goals come in at -112 odds here.
