Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Koln
17th June 1930hrs
Football – Germany – Bundesliga
Betting Pick: Both teams to score
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds:4/7 odds taken 1800GMT, Tuesday 16 June
Champions-League chasing Bayer Leverkusen have stuttered of late and in need of a win when FC Koln visit the BayArena on Wednesday.
Table of Contents
Bayer Leverkusen Preview – Can Bayer handle the pressure and take what would be a crucial three points?
Bayer Leverkusen will know by the time they kick-off if they are still in fourth or dropped to fifth depending on Borussia Monchengladbach’s result the day before. Either way, Peter Bosz knows his team really have to get back to winning ways if they are to secure Champions League football for next season.
Leverkusen come into the game a point ahead of Gladbach as both teams have shown signs of nerves in recent weeks. To their credit, Bayer have won 10 of their last 15 in the league but dropped points in three of their last four. They’ve also lost their last two at home – one against Bayern Munich and the other in a resounding defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg.
Bosz could hardly have picked a kinder run-in as they face three teams in the bottom half of the table and two of them are at home. There will be no excuses should they fail to complete what has been a really strong second half of the campaign in general.
It’s been their home form which has been most frustrating considering they have won the joint-second most away games in the league – one less than champions-elect Bayern.
FC Koln Preview – Are Koln able to eventually get back to winning ways and upset local rivals?
Koln have played six games since football returned in Germany and they are still waiting on a first win – they are one of the three teams in this position with Paderborn and Schalke being the other two. Three draws and three defeats have pushed them closer to the relegation zone than they would have liked but they remain seven points clear of danger with just three games to go. So as depressing as the last few weeks have been, they are unlikely to be overly worried.
Much has been made of the impact of playing game with no fans in Germany and it certainly appears to be having an effect on Koln. Their last game prior to the break was also behind closed doors and they lost that to rivals Borussia Monchengladbach.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Whilst they continue to struggle for points, the one thing you can guarantee with this team is goals. Their goal at home to Union Berlin in the 2-1 defeat on Saturday was the 17th consecutive time Koln have found the net. It also means that their last eight games have all seen both teams scoring, indicating they are very entertaining to watch. Which will count for very little with coach Markus Gisdol.
Koln will complete their season with an away match at Hertha Berlin then at home to Mainz. They may be safe but there’s no doubt that they will want to sample that winning feeling once again before the campaign ends.
Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Koln Betting Advice
The distance between these two club’s stadiums is the shortest of any in the German top-flight, so there will be some local rivalry to add into the mix. Bayer Leverkusen are without doubt a more talented and capable outfit but their mentality does not always match it. Koln have also won their last two meetings against this opponent, both of which have been at their home stadium however.
With the form Koln have been in, the expectation on Leverkusen to get all three points and the fact this is a fixture they have not been all that great in, there is a sense that the home team could slip-up once again. Their strongest form is undoubtedly on the road so there would have to be some hesitancy in backing them at short odds.
Key Facts – Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Koln Betting Tip
-
- Eintracht appear to be hitting some form after a poor spell – winning three of their last four
- Schalke are looking for their first win since January, a run of 13 games without victory
- The visitors have scored only three goals in their last nine Bundesliga away games
Koln do enjoy visiting the BayArena having averaged two goals per game over the last six matches and their ability to find the net this season is evident as alluded to above. Combine that with Leverkusen failing to score against Koln in just one of their last 20 home games then both teams to score looks a stick-on for Wednesday’s clash.
The best betting odds for Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Koln
Bayer Leverkusen to win: 8/15 at Betfred
Draw: 7/2 at Betfred
FC Koln to win: 19/4 at Betfred
