Bayer Leverkusen V Schalke 04
Saturday 7th December 2019 – 17:30 (kick-off)
German Bundesliga
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Sportingbet
German Bundesliga Betting with 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 5th December 2019 at 23:20)
Preview: Saturday’s evening kick-off in Germany has all the potential to be an enthralling contest, as two teams tussling towards the top of the table clash inside BayArena. Can hosts Bayer Leverkusen provide the home fans with something to celebrate or will Schalke extend some fine form?
Bayer Leverkusen Vs Schalke Live Stats & Betting Odds
Bayer Leverkusen Preview – Confidence sky-high after Bayern triumph?
Travelling supporters were treated to value for money last weekend as Bayer Leverkusen (7th – W6 D4 L3, GF20 GA17) paid a visit to the residence of the perennial Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, and departed with all three points following a 2-1 victory that was inspired by a Leon Bailey brace. It hasn’t necessarily been as joyous at their BayArena lately, where they have gone a little over two months, spanning four matches (D3 L1), without registering a home win in the league.
Buoyed by last week’s stunning result – less so the performance which, according to Expected Goals, was not deserving of the win (xG: BAY 2.61 – 1.38 LEV) – perhaps now Leverkusen can kick on at home and secure a first win there since overcoming Union Berlin on 21 September. There have been draws with Freiburg (1-1), RB Leipzig (1-1) and Werder Bremen (2-2) since, along with a 2-1 reverse against the current league leaders, Borussia Monchengladbach.
In fairness, those were all tough encounters. Three of which were versus sides in the current top-six. So is this, though, against a Schalke side four positions and three points better off than themselves. Furthermore, it has been over five years since Die Werkself last beat The Royal Blues in front of a home crowd, losing two of four subsequent meetings at BayArena (D2 L2). They are, however, unbeaten in three Bundesliga matches now (W2 D1) and should be brimming with belief after last weekend’s exploits.
Schalke Preview – Momentum favours Royal Blues?
With the winter break on the horizon, some fans are even excited at the possibility of spending the festive period perched atop the Bundesliga. That is the dramatic transformation which has taken place at Schalke (3rd – W7 D4 L2, GF24 GA16) under the former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner, who in his first three-and-a-half-months in the dugout has guided a relegation threatened team from last season to third in the table this season. A mere three points off the leaders.
Schalke haven’t exactly been scintillating this season (Expected Goals rates them as only the 14th best team in the league so far) but the impressive nature of their results speak for themselves. After thirteen rounds of fixtures, Wagner’s side are one of four teams to have lost only twice. Moreover, only one was away from home (W4 D3 L1), where they have won more often despite playing a game more in Gelsenkirchen. This includes each of the last two, away to Augsburg (2-3) and Werder Bremen (1-2).
Defensively sound, The Royal Blues have conceded fewer goals (16) than all but three other teams, this despite only keeping three clean sheets all season. Chinks have begun to appear lately, though, shipping seven goals across their last four matches, while there hasn’t been a shutout on the road since drawing 0-0 at Borussia Monchengladbach on the opening weekend. Some food for thought then for a team that is nevertheless is terrific recent form, going the last five matches unbeaten (W3 D2).
Bayer Leverkusen Vs Schalke Key Facts:
- Having beaten Bayern Munich away in their last match, Bayer Leverkusen return home for this weekend’s domestic commitments seeking to halt a winless run of four in said fixtures (D3 L1).
- It is no defeat in five for Schalke (W3 D2), who are also bidding to win a third consecutive away game.
- Last season’s same fixture ended in a 1-1 draw, thus extending Schalke‘s unbeaten streak at Leverkusen in the league to four (W2 D2).
Betting Summary
In a wide open title race, and with the battle for European places set to be as tight and congested as ever, this could be a hugely significant fixture between two teams genuinely believing a top-four finish, at the very least, is achievable.
Bayer Leverkusen (19/20 Ladbrokes) are favourites, odds-on at that, which is something I cannot agree with. As impressive as beating Bayern last week was, because it was, this is a team with no league win in four at home (D3 L1) and which hasn’t been victorious on the four previous occasions they have hosted their next opponents. That being against a Schalke (3/1 Betway) side unbeaten in its previous five Bundesliga matches (W3 D2) and with only one away defeat thus far. Schalke or Draw (Double Chance) appeals at 10/11 with WilliamHill.
Alternatively, both teams to score also has solid claims. Leverkusen’s last four home games would feature goals for both them and the opposition. Schalke, meanwhile, have seen each of their last four Bundesliga contests produce both teams scoring, as was also the case in four of their last five away encounters.
