How much will the quality suffer from the many absences?

Bundesliga top matches suit the Red Bulls this season. In our RB Leipzig vs. Leverkusen tip, the Saxons are already playing their third Saturday evening match of the current season. The record so far: a 3-1 win against Cologne on September 20 and a 6-0 gala in the last home game against Frankfurt.

If we also take into account the last top Bundesliga match from the previous season (2-0 win vs. Dortmund) for our RB Leipzig vs. Leverkusen prediction, the hosts have celebrated three consecutive wins in Saturday evening matches.

Never before has RBL won four Saturday evening games in a row. A home win is the most likely scenario out of the three available options (1X2) in the soccer apps. Those who believe the Red Bulls can secure their seventh Bundesliga home win of the season can plan on RB Leipzig – Leverkusen betting odds of around 2.07.

It remains to be seen how closely this matchup will reflect the footballing promise of the two club names and league positions. Ole Werner and Kasper Hjulmand will have to do without some of their best players for the top-of-the-table clash.

In addition to a number of injuries, the two head coaches are also having to contend with the departure of several regular players for the Africa Cup of Nations. The Werkself officials have been busy on the phone and have agreed to a late release for Christian Kofane, meaning the 19-year-old will be available for the top match.

RB Leipzig vs. Leverkusen AI prediction

If things go badly, both sides will be missing ten or more players. This will affect coordination, especially when defending. In our artificial intelligence’s RB Leipzig – Leverkusen AI prediction, this leads to value in a bet on “Over 3.5 goals.”

RB Leipzig – Statistics & current form

Before the season, it was not entirely clear what level the Red Bulls could be expected to perform at. There has been a shake-up in the squad and a new coach, Ole Werner, has been poached from SV Werder Bremen. In addition, the Saxons had missed out on European competition.

The 0-6 defeat in Munich at the start of the season fueled the worries of RBL fans, but the team was able to dismiss it as an anomaly. Currently, Werner’s team is the closest pursuer of Bayern and can point to an equally respectable third place in the expected points comparison (24.3 xPTS).

The hosts’ pressing is being used more sparingly, which has given the back line more stability. Following the 6-0 defeat to Munich, the Saxons have conceded only ten more goals in 13 Bundesliga matches.

At the top European level

A trip to the Red Bull Arena has ended in defeat for every Bundesliga team so far this season. Werner’s side have won all six of their home games ahead of RB Leipzig vs. Leverkusen. At home, the Red Bulls have not only scored significantly more goals (18) than away (11), but have also conceded very few.

Only 19 percent of the goals conceded (3/16) were conceded by the second-placed team at their own stadium. In addition, RBL scored at least two goals in every Bundesliga home game. In the top European leagues, the Red Bulls are the only team besides FC Barcelona with a flawless home record. Accordingly, it is not surprising that bets on RB Leipzig to win against Leverkusen are rated lower than tips on an away win.

To consolidate their role as Bayern’s closest challengers, the hosts must survive a third competitive game in a row without defeat against the Werkself. Last season, the Saxons scored points in both Bundesliga matches (3-2, 2-2), ending a run of three consecutive defeats.

Leverkusen – Statistics & current form

Kasper Hjulmand can give free rein to his creativity ahead of the top match at the Red Bull Arena. There is a question mark over at least 13 B04 professionals. There is a major rotation coming up, especially in defense – not the best conditions for a duel with the best home team in the Bundesliga.

Mark Flekken will be able to guard the goal, but in front of him, Jarell Quansah is suspended and Edmond Tapsoba is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, leaving a gap in the defensive trio. Captain Robert Andrich is therefore likely to move from central defense to the right-back position. Loic Bade and Jeanuel Belocian will most likely join him.

There are other issues that could damage the Werkself’s defensive structure. Aleix Garcia is injured but should be able to play. Next to him, the second position in the double six is completely open. A player with defensive qualities is no longer available for this position.

Will B04 lose again away from home?

Top striker Patrik Schick will likely be missing from the starting lineup. Alongside him, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Ibrahim Maza, who have been called up for the Africa Cup of Nations, are also missing from the forward positions. Christian Kofane will not join the Cameroon squad until after the top match, but he is also slightly injured.

At Bundesliga level, Bayer has had frequent problems recently, losing two of its last three away games (0-3 vs. Bayern, 0-2 vs. Augsburg). Previously, the 2024 German champions had not lost 37 consecutive Bundesliga away games, setting a new record in the German top flight.

B04’s goal threat from offensive set pieces (10 set-piece goals) could be contained by the Saxons’ excellent defensive work (2 set-piece goals conceded), meaning that an important element of Bayer’s offense in this top match will be irrelevant.

RB Leipzig – Leverkusen Head-to-head comparison / H2H record

Goals, goals, and more goals – that sums up the recent encounters between Leipzig and Leverkusen. The last four meetings have each featured at least four goals. In total, the ball crossed the goal line 19 times during this period. Both teams scored at least twice in all four matches. So our RB Leipzig vs. Leverkusen tip is: fire away.

RB Leipzig – Leverkusen Tip

A decisive phase in the game begins immediately after the kickoff. Leipzig and Leverkusen like to start successfully, having each scored six goals in the opening quarter of an hour – a joint best among all Bundesliga teams. However, the hosts have one advantage over the Werkself.

RBL is the only team in the top German league that has not conceded a goal in the first quarter of an hour. However, B04 has not performed significantly weaker in this period when it comes to defending. Hjulmand’s team has also not conceded more than one goal before the end of the first quarter of an hour.

The difference in attack is surprisingly clear. Leverkusen has scored one more goal (30) than RBL (29). Behind this, however, are figures that make Leipzig look stronger. The Saxons have had 424 touches in the opponent’s penalty area (2nd), while Leverkusen has only had 339 touches there (9th).

In addition, the home side had 26.4 expected goals – the second-best figure in the German top flight. Leverkusen also trails the hosts in this category (24.3 xG).