Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig Odds
| Leverkusen Odds | +210 [BET NOW] |
| RB Leipzig Odds | +120 [BET NOW] |
| Draw | +265 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-186/+150) [BET NOW] |
| Time | Saturday, 9:30 a.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Odds as of Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
RB Leipzig enters its second match of the Bundesliga season Saturday at the Bay Arena following a 3-1 beatdown of FSV Mainz 05 in last weekend's season opener. Bayer Leverkusen played to a scoreless draw with VfL Wolfsburg, even though it was outplayed for large stretches of the match.
The story of both teams’ seasons will largely come down to how well they replace their top attacking players. Leipzig’s top goal scorer Timo Werner and Leverkusen’s playmaker Kai Havertz left their respective clubs for Premier League powerhouse Chelsea.
The main difference between these two good teams comes on the defensive side of things. Leverkusen presses at all times, and its aggressive ball winning mentality leaves defensive frailties that Leipzig is poised to exploit.
Leipzig doesn't have Werner to get in behind anymore, but the attacking trio of Yousef Poulsen, Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg should be able to pass their way through Leverkusen’s mediocre defense. The return of Christopher Nkunku to the lineup adds much needed creativity in the midfield.
On the defensive side, Leipzig returns all three of its primary center backs that combined to allow the second-fewest Bundesliga goals and second-lowest xG against throughout last season. Leverkusen looked toothless against a similarly defensive Wolfsburg team.
I have long term concerns about how much this Leverkusen team will be able to create without Havertz and striker Kevin Volland, who left for Monaco. They did add former Roma and Leipzig striker Patrick Schick, but if any team knows how to defend him, it’s the team that had him last season.
Leipzig is a more effective, pressing unit that is sturdier in defense and this is just a poor matchup for Leverkusen. It's won just one of eight against Leipzig and I could see Leipzig triumph by multiple goals here. As Leverkusen has to press for more when trailing, they’ll play right into Leipzig’s hands.
Leipzig have won four consecutive away games in the Bundesliga, and my continued look to back away teams due to the complete removal of any home-field advantage leaves me to play Leipzig here. I believe it's much more equipped to replace the loss of Werner than Leverkusen is to replace Havertz.
I make Leipzig as odds-on here and will back them at +110 or better.
The Pick: RB Leipzig (+110 or better)
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