Bayer Leverkusen Vs FC Koln
Bayer Leverkusen Vs FC Koln Saturday 17th April 2021 – 17:30 (BT Sport)
German Bundesliga
Pick: Both Teams NOT to Score
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 14th April 2021)
Preview: When these teams met on Matchday 16, Bayer Leverkusen eased to a 4-0 win that sent them top of the Bundesliga in emphatic style. Both clubs have opted for a change of manager since, such has been their respective declines, with three points on Saturday carrying huge significance for both sides.
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Table of Contents
Bayer Leverkusen – Solid yet unspectacular under new coach?
Fifth in 2019/20, when pipped to the fourth and final Champions League berth, and top of the table on 16 December following an unbeaten start to 2020/21 comprising eight wins and four draws. This season has unravelled quite spectacularly for Leverkusen (W12 D8 L8), to such an extreme that even a top-six finish – viewed as a minimum requirement before the campaign got underway – hangs in the balance.
The latest manager in the managerial hot seat, Hannes Wolf, has made a positive impact of sorts since taking over from Peter Bosz. Formerly the coach calling the shots with the Germany U-18 set up, Wolf initially oversaw the fairly unconvincing 2-1 win over rock-bottom Schalke, before a rather forgettable goalless draw away to Hoffenheim on Monday. He inherited a side with one Bundesliga win in six games.
Those points went some way to consolidating sixth place, with Freiburg now four points back in seventh. The manner of the performances, though, was alarming, averaging a measly 0.56 xG against arguably the worst Bundesliga side in history and another labouring in mid-table. Meanwhile, prior to edging Schalke, Die Werkself struggled to beat all of Bielefeld, Freiburg (losing both 2-1) and Mainz (2-2) at BayArena.
FC Koln – Billy Goats counting on new manager bounce?
With eight points from eleven games, only bottom club Schalke have totted up less points during the second half of the season than FC Koln (W5 D8 L15). Their dire situation took a turn for the worse on Sunday as, with a potentially invaluable point in their grasp as the clocked ticked past ninety minutes, the Billy Goats conceded the decisive fifth goal in a 3-2 defeat to relegation rivals FSV Mainz.
That latter result could best be described as a suckerpunch. For coach Markus Gisdol, it was the knockout blow. The club and coach parting ways in the immediate aftermath, with former Fortuna Dusseldorf boss Friedhelm Funkel the man chosen to steer a team that has forgotten how to win out of trouble. It is now eight games – six defeats and two draws – since they last beat Borussia Monchengladbach on 6 February.
The first task for the new man in charge will be arresting a run of four successive away defeats. The last time they lost five away Bundesliga games on the bounce was in the latter stages of 2017/18, a season they went on to be relegated. However, this is all at odds with their earlier displays on the road: four of their five wins this season, along with 65% of their overall points total, were earned outside of Cologne.
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Leverkusen Vs FC Koln Betting Advice
Both these teams will hold no fear ahead of Saturday’s tea-time kick-off. Leverkusen‘s start under interim manager Hannes Wolf has been deceptively good, in that four points from a possible six is satisfactory but the performance against both of Schalke and Hoffenheim left plenty to be desired. However, visitors FC Koln are in disarray at present, having failed to win in eight straight Bundesliga matches.
Bayer Leverkusen Vs FC Koln – Key Facts:
- Only one team has found the back of the net in three of their previous four meetings, with Leverkusen prevailing in each of the last two (won 4-0 in Cologne on Matchday 12).
- Leverkusen have only managed to score three times in their past four Bundesliga matches, while Koln netted just twice across their previous four away league games.
- FC Koln will be desperate to avoid a fifth consecutive away defeat here, facing a Leverkusen side with one win from their last four at home (D1 L2).
It is incredibly difficult putting forth a credible case for either emerging victorious at the BayArena. Leverkusen did ease to a 4-0 victory when these sides met earlier in the season, making it two wins in as many meetings. I’d be surprised if we witnessed a repeat, though, or anything remotely close. The football so far under Hannes Wolf has been dire, while Koln boast only two goals in their last four away games.
Best Betting Odds – Bayer Leverkusen Vs FC Koln
Bayer Leverkusen – 13/20 (Betway)
Draw – 3/1 (BetVictor)
FC Koln – 9/2 (PaddyPower)
