The first double-header of German Bundesliga Week 14 features the matchup at BayArena between the home team and the Yellow-Blacks from Dortmund, and at Allianz Arena between defending champions and the newcomer Hannover 96 squad. Leverkusen is coming off from a road win against Frankfurt (0:1), while Dortmund staged another high-scoring showdown by splitting points with Schalke 04 team at Signal Iduna Park (4:4).
Another host in this preview, The Reds from Munich are coming off from their second defeat of the season that occurred at Borussia Park in Monchengladbach (2:1) while Hannover on the side recorded a 1:1 home draw against Stuttgart. These are a couple of very interesting matchups so let’s take a closer look.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Dortmund
Three-Way: 1: Bayer Leverkusen +152; X: +290 Draw; 2: Dortmund +196 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Bayer Leverkusen -118; Dortmund +120
Total +3.5: Over +125; Under -123
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Bayer Leverkusen team extended their streak without a defeat to eight games in a row after the last week’s triumph in Frankfurt. Coach Herrlich has found the right formula for success and since mid-September, the team is on the ascending path, recording very good results. This could finally be the season when Factory XI (nickname for the Bayer Leverkusen team) gets back to the European scene. They are coming closer and closer to the top of the Bundesliga table and with a potential victory on Saturday, they could get themselves at No. 5 spot having in mind that they currently rank one spot below with one point less than their next opponent.
They are 5-5-3 so far (3-3-0 at home) and their goal difference is 26-18 (15-7 at home). The team managed to score at least one goal in every single game since the beginning of the season (13 in a row) and 77% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 67% of their home duels had over 3.5 goals in total. They also managed to score two goals or more in each of their last six home games while both teams scored in 77% of their overall matchups. Kevin Volland tops the team in scoring with eight goals while Leon Bailey has four. Wendell and Kai Havertz collected team-high three assists each so far.
Dominik Kohr (yellow cards suspension) is out on Saturday while Jonathan Tah’s (muscle), Wendell’s (muscle) and Sven Bender’s (rib) status is unknown.
DORTMUND
The Dortmund team recorded a relatively good result last weekend by splitting points with the Miners if we take into the consideration the fact that they snapped a three-game losing streak in this duel. The squad is also winless in the last six games (nine if we count the UEFA Champions League duels during that period) and they could really use a break because the fans are getting more and more anxious about the first year manager Peter Bosz. If he wants to secure his job he’ll need to turn the table soon.
Borussia Dortmund currently ranks at No. 5 spot in the Bundesliga table with 21 points earned and 6-3-4 record (3-2-2 on the road). They score 2.54 and concede 1.54 goals per match (33-20 goal difference) and 86% of their visiting matchups had over 2.5 goals in total while 38% of their overall games had over 4.5 goals in total. Almost every third road game had over 2.5 goals at half-time and both teams scored in 62% of their overall showdowns. Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tops the team in scoring with 11 goals while Maximilian Philipp has six in his account. Midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud tops the team in assists with three so far.
Their top scorer Aumabeyang (yellow card suspension) is out for the next match while Sebastian Rode’s (groin) and Eric Durm’s (hip) status is unknown. Roman Burki (concussion) is listed as day to day while Alexander Isak (knee) should be available in a few weeks. Mario Goetze (ankle), Jacob Larsen (knee) and Marco Reus (cruciate ligament) are expected to be back in action at the beginning of the next year while Hendrik Bonmann (knee) and Lukasz Piszczek (knee) should be ready during this month.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Dortmund – Match Prediction
This matchup reeks of high-scoring potential and that’s where I will primarily go. When it comes to the final winner I would give the advantage to the home team having in mind the visitor’s injuries and the fact that their top scorer Aubameyang is suspended for the upcoming Bundesliga duel.
My pick: Under 3.5 goals (-123)
Additional pick: Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich vs. Hannover 96
Three-Way: 1: Bayern Munich -417; X: +876 Draw; 2: Hannover 96 +2000 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: Bayern Munich +117; Hannover 96 -120
Total +3.5: Over -123; Under +120
BAYERN MUNICH
Jupp Heynckess’s perfect run finally came to an end last weekend with a 2:1 defeat against old foes, Borussia Monchengladbach. Still, we all knew that this moment will come eventually and to be honest, there is no shame in losing a road game against the squad that plays so good this season as Monchengladbach does. Despite to the loss, team from Munich still holds the pole position in the Bundesliga table with 29 points and a 9-2-2 record (5-1-0 at home).
Team’s goal difference is 31-10 (19-3 at Allianz Arena) and 69% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 67% of their home games had over 3.5 goals in total. Bayern squad managed to score at least one goal in each of their last 10 matches including a score in every single home game this season. They’ve also scored an opener in 85% of their matches and they were leading at halftime in 69% of those duels. Both teams scored in 38% of their games while in more than half games (54%) Munich hasn’t conceded a goal. Robert Lewandowski tops the team in scoring with 13 goals while Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal have three each. Defender Joshua Kimmich is the team’s top assister with five recorded so far.
Arjen Robben (hamstring) should be back during the next month while Manuel Neuer’s (foot) season is probably over. Thiago Alcantara (thigh) is expected to be ready in a few weeks while Juan Bernat’s (thigh) status is unknown. Rafinha (ankle) and David Alaba (back) are both listed as day to day while James Rodriguez (concussion), Thomas Muller (thigh) and Franck Ribery (knee) are all back in training.
HANNOVER 96
Despite a relatively strong start of the Bundesliga season, the Hannover 96 squad is slowing down a bit lately as they were winless during the month of November, recording two defeats and one draw (last week’s 1:1 at home against Stuttgart). The team is still in relatively safe position in the Bundesliga table with 19 points earned (No. 10 spot) but they’ll need to regroup and stop the downfall if they want to stay safe.
They are currently 5-4-4 (2-2-3 on the road) and their goal difference is 16-16 (7-11 on the road). They’ve managed to concede at least one goal in each of their last seven matches while 57% of their road games had over 2.5 goals in total. Only 15% of their overall duels had over 3.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 71% of their road games. Most common scores on the road were 2:1 loss and a 1:1 draw (both occurred twice). Centre-forward Martin Harnik tops the team in scoring with five goals while another striker, Jonathas leads the team in assisting with three.
Felipe (thigh) and Edgar Prib (cruciate ligament) are expected to be ready at the beginning of the next year while Waldemar Anton’s (unknown), Martin Harnik’s (Flu) and Ihlas Bebou’s (thigh) status is unknown. Salif Sane (thigh) and Uffe Bech (meniscus) are listed as day to day while Philipp Tschauner (shoulder) should be available in few days. Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee (thigh) is back in training.
Bayern Munich vs. Hannover 96 –Match Prediction
The Bayern Munich squad is probably a bit shaken after the last week’s defeat in Monchengladbach but they shouldn’t have any problems with Hannover 96 squad in Munich. Expect a convincing Bayern Munich win here with the most likely score to be 4:1 for the home team.
My pick: Bayern Munich AH -2.5 (+117)
Additional pick: Over 3.5 goals (-123)
