Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Koln Preview, Odds, Predictions, Picks

Bayer Leverkusen plays its Bundesliga game against Koln earlier than usual because they have the Europa League semifinals next Thursday. But they need three points from this game as well because this unit still hopes it might reach the UEFA Champions League next season. If not that, to stay in the zone that leads to international competitions. On the other hand, is FC Koln, who got away from the bottom of the standings. Billy Goats still didn’t secure the Bundesliga status and are too in desperate need of points. 

Preview

Bayer Leverkusen (-166) has eight points fewer than the fourth-placed Freiburg and, with four rounds to go, still hopes that it might catch the UCL train. On the other side, they have the Europa League semis against Roma, meaning that Xabi Alonso has his hands full. 

Leverkusen didn’t lose for the past 14 events, and they have been very good throughout that stretch, winning ten games. The same thing is at Bay Arena, where they have five victories and one draw in the last six appearances. 

Five of those seven contests saw at least three goals and hits on both ends. Meanwhile, Bayer couldn’t net twice in each but one of those meetings. Alonso targeted the form for this part of the year, and at one point, they played the best football in Bundesliga. 

Koln (+400) lost last weekend, snapping their four-game defeatless streak. They would split the same with two wins and draws, posting both of those victories away from home, 1-3 in Augsburg and the same result in Hoffenheim.

Eventually, that allowed them to get away from the relegation zone. The Billy Goats had a terrible period previously, losing four of five games and severely endangering their prospects of staying in the league then. 

Prior to these two wins on the road, Koln had seven in a row without a triumph, four victories, and three draws. Overall, they’ve been struggling to gain consistency away from home. 

Latest News

Exequiel Palacios, Patrik Schick, Charles Aranguiz and Andrey Lunev are out for the hosts.

Eric Martel is suspended due to disciplinary reasons. Mark Uth and Florian Dietz are injured.

Head to Head Games

Bayer was better than the Billy Goats in this year’s first contest, winning 1-2. Benno Schmitz scored for the hosts in the first half, but Leverkusen responded in the second through Amiri and Diaby, who netted in the span of six minutes, blitzing the rivals. 

Five of the last six direct meetings have seen at least three goals. Koln won the previous game in Leverkusen last year, and before that, their most recent victory was in 2011. 

Predictions

Koln’s solid streak on the road comes to an end. The Billy Goats are up against a very tough rival whose form is excellent, and on top of that, play incredibly lethal football at home. Bayer’s win by at least a two-goal margin is something that we have to try in this case. The odds are very profitable, +150, so this is a must-try bet. 

Pick: Bayer Leverkusen -1.5 +150