Bayer Leverkusen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf Odds & Preview
Second DFB-Pokal Semifinal
Leverkusen Can Extend Unbeaten Run to 40 Games
Whether it’s been the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal or the Europa League, Bayer Leverkusen have been comeback kings this season. Their dreams of a treble, and an unbeaten season, are very much alive and they can take a big step toward their first trophy of the season on Wednesday. Leverkusen host Fortuna Dusseldorf on Wednesday in the DFB-Pokal Semifinal. Dusseldorf are a second tier side but they’ll revel in the opportunity to end Leverkusen’s 39 game unbeaten run. Ahead of Wednesday’s match, we’ll analyze the Bayer Leverkusen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf odds.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf
Date, time:
Location: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
Leverkusen vs Dusseldorf Head-to-Head
Fortuna Dusseldorf were last in the Bundesliga from 2018 to 2020. Those looking to bet on the Bayer Leverkusen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf odds should note Leverkusen won all four of those Bundesliga matches. In fact, Bayer Leverkusen are on a six game winning streak vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf. Fortuna last defeated Leverkusen in 1996 and have won just one of the last 14 meetings. However, Leverkusen are 0-2 in their previous DFB-Pokal matches vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Bayer Leverkusen Complete Another Comeback
Bayer Leverkusen took on Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday with coach Xabi Alonso having said he intended to stay at Leverkusen for at least another season the day before. Despite dominating possession and creating a bunch of chances, Leverkusen didn’t get on the board first. Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier put the visitors ahead and Leverkusen were left playing catch up. As they have often done this season, Leverkusen left it until late.
In the 88th minute, Jonathan Tah sent in a cross that Robert Andrich connected on with his right foot and equalized. Just a couple of minutes later, Patrik Schick got on the end of a Nathan Tella cross to put Leverkusen up 2-1 and complete the comeback. In their last DFB-Pokal match, Leverkusen also pulled off a comeback to defeat Stuttgart 3-2. With Bayern Munich’s loss to Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker, Bayer took a 13 point lead at the top of the table.
Leverkusen, first place in the Bundesliga standings, have now gone 39 games without a loss, in all competitions. They are on their way to setting more records. Juventus currently hold the record for any club in Europe’s top five leagues, with a 43 game unbeaten streak overall. Victor Boniface, Leverkusen’s talented Nigerian striker, has been out injured for the last few months but he could be in the squad on Wednesday to face Fortuna Dusseldorf. Exequiel Palacios and Arthur Augusto are expected to be out.
Dusseldorf on Streak of Their Own
Fortuna Dusseldorf are currently on their longest unbeaten run of the season. They haven’t lost any of their last seven matches and have won each of their last three. Fortuna Dusseldorf fell behind on Saturday at fellow DFB-Pokal Semifinalists Kaiserslautern in the 2. Bundesliga. Dusseldorf managed to turn things around in the second half, when they scored three goals between the 74th and 81st minute. Greek international Christos Tzolis scored a brace and he’s been superb this season.
Tzolis has scored 17 goals, which makes him joint 2. Bundesliga leader. Meanwhile, Isak Johannesson is joint leader in the DFB-Pokal stats, with seven goal contributions. In the DFB-Pokal Quarter-Final, Fortuna Dusseldorf went to 2. Bundesliga leaders FC St. Pauli and managed a 1-1 draw. In extra time, both teams got on the scoresheet and Fortuna Dusseldorf were victorious in penalties.
Fortuna Dusseldorf have scored 13 goals in four DFB-Pokal matches and they’re also in third place in the 2. Bundesliga. Along with Tzolis and Johannesson, Yannik Engelhardt, Ao Tanaka, Jordy de Wijs, Vincent Vermeij and Florian Kastenmeier have been key players for Dusseldorf this season. Defender Nicolas Gavory is dealing with a knock and he is listed as questionable for this match.
Leverkusen vs Dusseldorf Match Analysis & Odds
Yes, Bayer Leverkusen have been excellent this season but they can’t afford to underestimate Fortuna Dusseldorf here. This has been a DFB-Pokal full of upsets, as three of the four Semifinalists are from lower leagues. This is the biggest match of Fortuna Dusseldorf’s season and expect them to be up for it. All of their previous DFB-Pokal matches have been on the road and they’ve only lost three of their 18 road matches this season.
The Bayer Leverkusen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf odds price hosts Leverkusen as -715 favorites for this one and it’s not hard to see why. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions all while scoring two or more goals. They’ve shown a penchant for comebacks and get results even when they’re not close to their best. Bayer Leverkusen -2, -2.5 sits at -115 odds as Boniface, their leading scorer this season, could come off the bench after a long injury layoff.
Here, Fortuna Dusseldorf are +1660 underdogs, which corresponds to just a 5.5 implied percent chance of victory, without vig. Bettors could also back Dusseldorf +2, +2.5 at -110 soccer betting odds or a draw at +895. Leverkusen’s record this season is 34-5-0 and they’re -1800 favorites to go through to the final, overall. Under 3.5 goals are priced at -135 odds as well but Leverkusen have averaged nearly five goals per game in the DFB-Pokal this season. Wednesday’s winner will take on either Saarbrucken or Kaiserslautern in May’s final.
