Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Bayer Leverkusen Preview, Odds, Predictions, Picks

Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen are two of the direct rivals for the top-four place in the Bundesliga and the ticket to the UEFA Champions League. Both teams have participated in fantastic games in the opening round, with these two events combining for 13 goals in total. The hosts’ head coach Gerardo Seoane will have a big motive to win, because he left Leverkusen to join Borussia, and we are sure that the ambition is the same on the other side, because his former players want to show that he made a mistake. 

Preview

Borussia Monchengladbach (+260) opened the year with fireworks in Augsburg, where they played 4-4 against the hosts. It was a roller coaster for all the Monch players and fans that day, with the team having a two-goal edge on two occasions, losing the same and getting one point in the seventh minute of the injury time from the penalty spot. 

Monch was almost perfect in the opening 40 minutes, scoring three goals, but they lost the pace in the last five, conceding twice and losing their focus. The second half saw a calmer pace with fewer chances, but it turned out to be equally dramatic in the end. 

Like in the past few years, this team will play aggressive and efficient football, with goals on both sides. That’s been Borussia’s philosophy and it won’t change.

Bayer Leverkusen (-105) edged out the recent Super Cup winners, RB Leipzig, 3-2 in an exciting and engaging matchup last Saturday. They were up 2-0 after 35 minutes, yet the Bulls would come back right after Lever’s second goal, cutting the lead.

Despite Moussa Diaby’s departure, the team still has an enormous attacking potential with Wirtz, Hofman and Boniface upfront. Their 3-4-3 formation is very fluid, and as we can see, it emphasizes the attack, suggesting that Bayer’s games will be interesting and filled with goals. 

The defense will be a bit vulnerable and exposed, yet that is nothing new for the club from Leverkusen who struggled throughout the years in that part of the team. 

Latest News

Monchengladbach’s injury report is pretty long. Cvancara, Nets, Ranos, Wolf, Elvedi, Lainer, Kramer and Kone are all injured and aren’t expected to appear on the field before September. 

Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli are suspended due to their red cards, while Jeremie Frimpong, Sardar Azmoun and Patrik Schick are all injured. Most of these guys are regular starters. 

Head to Head Games

Last year, both games saw four or more goals. The first was in Monchengladbach, where Leverkusen won 2-3. The second at Bay Arena ended 2-2. 

Six of the last seven were with at least three goals, and five during that span saw both teams netting.

Predictions.

A high-scoring affair is expected by many here, and we think the same. Our first pick would be for both teams to score and over 2.5 goals, which is currently priced at -165. Our second suggestion for this event would be over 1.5 goals in the second half, with the odds being at -150. The action in the Bundesliga is always more intense in the latter half, and with these two offensive-minded teams involved, we think this pick is absolutely safe. 

Pick: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals -165

Here are more previews for this weekend’s games:

• Chelsea vs. Luton 
• Brighton vs. Newcastle
• Everton vs. Wolves
• Arsenal vs. Fulham
• Rayo Vallecano vs. Atletico Madrid
• Newcastle vs. Liverpool
• Villarreal vs Barcelona