Bayern Munich will host Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
The Bavarians dominated the Bundesliga for the past decade, but Xabi Alonso’s side put an end to that era last season. Will the king reclaim his throne? Can Leverkusen assert its dominance? The answers will begin to unfold when the match kicks off at Allianz Arena on Wednesday, March 5, at 3 p.m. ET.
Here is my Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen prediction and Champions League odds for today's match.
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen Pick, Prediction, Odds
| Leverkusen Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 +105 | 2.5 -135o / 105u | +340 |
| Bayern Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -145 | 2.5 -135o / 105u | -130 |
- Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen moneyline odds: Bayern Munich -130, Draw +295, Bayer Leverkusen +340
- Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen over/under: 2.5 Goals (-135o/+105u)
- Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen pick: Under 2.5 goals
I am backing under 2.5 goals in the Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen match.
Bayern Munich Prediction
Vincent Kompany’s side leads the Bundesliga by eight points over Leverkusen. However, doubts about the manager persist, particularly because of Bayern’s underwhelming Champions League campaign. Finishing 12th in the league phase, they only secured their spot in the Round of 16 thanks to a last-minute goal against Celtic in the playoffs.
A six-time winner of Europe’s most prestigious club competition — most recently in 2020 — Bayern needs to raise its level to add another trophy to its collection. Their fans are placing their hopes on Harry Kane to make that happen.
The English striker has scored 28 goals this season, 21 of them in the Bundesliga. He led the scoring charts in last year’s Champions League and, with seven goals in this campaign, has become the highest-scoring Englishman in the competition’s history.
Joshua Kimmich remains doubtful after sustaining a minor injury last week, but Bayern should have most of its key players available. That includes veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, left-back Alphonso Davies and an attacking arsenal that features Kane, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Michael Olise.
Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Alonso’s side shocked the world last season by winning the Bundesliga and securing the German Cup title. The only disappointment came in the Europa League final, where they lost to Italy’s Atalanta.
Hungry for redemption, Alonso has made the Champions League his priority this season. The results speak for themselves: Leverkusen finished among the top eight in the league phase and secured direct qualification to the Round of 16. However, their domestic form has suffered as they sit second in the Bundesliga.
Despite that, the team has remained true to its identity — controlling possession to neutralize opponents while employing fluid movement to create attacking opportunities. With this philosophy, they aim to reach their second-ever Champions League final, following their 2002 appearance, when they fell to Real Madrid.
Florian Wirtz, the team's brightest star and one of Germany’s most promising young talents, is ready to play alongside Patrik Schick, who leads the team in both creativity and goals. With no major injury concerns, other key players such as Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky will also be in the starting lineup.
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen Pick
Bayern Munich boasts an average xG of 2.53 per game, the highest in the Champions League. Nevertheless, this statistic shifts significantly when facing Leverkusen. These teams have already met three times this season and under 2.5 goals has been a common trend.
The results? Two draws (0-0 and 1-1) and a 1-0 victory for Leverkusen. That win, in the German Cup, came last December at the very same venue where this series will begin.
Those previous encounters suggest a tightly contested matchup between two teams that know each other well and are adept at canceling each other out. Given that this is a 180-minute battle, the race for a quarterfinal spot will likely remain open until the decisive second leg.
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen Pick: Under 2.5 Goals (+105, DraftKings)
Same-Game Parlay for Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- Under 2.5 Goals
- Harry Kane Anytime Goalscorer
SGP Payout: +575 — DraftKings
