Bayer Leverkusen have the chance to do what fewer and fewer are doubting they can accomplish as they face German giants Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Bayer 04, pointedly nicknamed "Neverkusen" by those outside the club for their propensity for habitually finishing second and never first, sit two points ahead of Bayern at the top of the league table. Owning the most second-place finishes of any German club in history yet to win a title, victory here at home would send the fanbase into euphoria and give them a much-needed cushion at the standings summit.
Defeat for Leverkusen, however, would not only see Bayern Munich take over the lead, but would also skewer the simmering, season-long hope that Bayer 04 fans have yet to truly unleash. There is a feeling of nervous optimism around BayArena regarding the team's real shot at remaining atop the table through the lengthy season, as fans keep their hope bottled up having had their hearts broken so many times before.
Bayern, on the other hand, have bided their time waiting for the opportunity to pounce, and while Leverkusen continually refuse to die, they are feeling slightly more vulnerable with each passing match. The Bavarian giants have recovered well from their blip against Werder Bremen in late January, and know this is their best shot at keeping their 11-year streak of Bundesliga titles alive.
USA: Click here to see the latest odds for Bayer 04 vs Bayern Munich and bet Bundesliga matches
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Draw (+255)
- Score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Bayern Munich
It's rare that teams repeat the same scoreline twice in a season, but there's every reason to believe that the two German giants of the current campaign will play to a stalemate and leave the title to be decided in other arenas over the remainder of the season.
| DraftKings (USA) |
|
| Bayer 04 win | +140 |
| Draw | +255 |
| Bayern Munich win | +165 |
| Both teams to score Y/N |
-210 / +170 |
| Over / Under 3.5 goals |
+125 / -175 |
| Bayern Munich -0.5 goals |
-170 |
| Bayer 04 +0.5 goals |
+145 |
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich match facts
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024
- Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. local (12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: BayArena (Leverkusen, Germany)
- Referee: Felix Zwayer
- Last meeting: Bayern Munich 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen (Sep. 15, 2023 | Bundesliga)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich: best bet
- Pick: Florian Wirtz to score or assist a goal
- Odds: +130 (FanDuel)
Florian Wirtz has been the breakout player of the Bundesliga season thus far. As Bayer Leverkusen look to replace the production of injured Victor Boniface, and Patrik Schick struggling as his replacement, Die Werkself has leaned even more on the young German international in the No. 10 role.
Without a goal in five straight Bundesliga matches and just two assists in that span, his underlying metrics indicate he's more than due. He has collected 1.14 xG across those games, plus 2.11 xA as well, showing just how involved he is for this team up front in a number of different facets.
Wirtz didn't pick up a goal contribution in the reverse fixture between these two clubs, but he very well could have, registering 0.34 xG on his lone shot plus 0.23 xA on three chances created. Having assisted two goals in the midweek comeback against Stuttgart, Wirtz is primed to carry this Leverkusen side at home, as long as his teammates (looking at you, Mr. Schick) can finish the chances he creates ... or he just simply does it himself. It's worth the risk for plus odds, whereas Bayern have so many dangerous forward players that picking out the contributors each week is a futile task.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich prop bet
- Pick: Both teams to score both halves — YES
- Odds: +650 (FanDuel)
There's an expectation of goals in this match, but there's every reason to believe it will be a barn burner all the way through.
These two sides sport the best defences in the Bundesliga this season, but Bayern Munich have been hit by enough injuries along the back line that Eric Dier is currently starting at centre-back, and Raphael Guerrero has yet to really press Alphonso Davies hard enough to snatch the left-back position. Bayer Leverkusen have conceded goals in all five games against the four teams below them (Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig) thus far.
While the injury to Victor Boniface and the struggles of his replacement Patrik Schick are a threat to Leverkusen's volume and ruthlessness up front, they should have enough spark through Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to trouble Bayern's patchwork back line.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich flier bet
- Pick: Halftime / Fulltime — Bayern Munich / Bayer Leverkusen
- Odds: +2600 (FanDuel)
If you're looking for a primo longshot bet this match, this is a wonderfully valuable play. Bayern Munich are the Bundesliga's best first-half team by an enormous margin, with 25 goals on 27.08 xG, with that expected goals tally nearly 10 more than anyone else in the German top flight.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen are this season's unkillable team. Yet to lose in any competition this entire season — the only major European club to hold that honor — they continually fight back late in matches. They have been trailing in four league matches this season, and have fought back to win one and draw three.
Most recently, Die Werkself secured a furious comeback against Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal midweek, trailing 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 on the hour mark, eventually winning 3-2 on a 90th minute winner from Jonathan Tah. They did the same against Bayern in the reverse fixture way back in September, appearing to fall short after Leon Goretzka's 86th minute goal to put the Bavarians up 2-1, but mustering a draw as Exequiel Palacios deposited a 94th minute penalty to secure an emotional draw at Allianz Arena.
At these glorious odds, there's no better flier play than seeing the two sides split the halves.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA, Telemundo | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | Sky Sports Football | Sky Go Extra |
The broadcast rights for Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal matches in the United States are owned by ESPN, with every match from both competitions streamed exclusively on ESPN+ all season long.
In Canada, DAZN own the broadcast rights to the German top flight, while this match will be broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Football amidst a loaded European slate of high-leverage matches at the same timeslot.
