German Bundesliga - Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen - Preview & Prediction

By Valdis Pans

Werder Bremen Hit New Low

Last season, Werder Bremen ended up just one point short of a qualifying place for the Europa League. This year, though, things have turned out quite differently. And not for any better reasons! After 24 matchdays, the Green-Whites are sitting 2nd from the bottom in Bundesliga with just 18 points (W4 D6 L14), having conceded a league-high 55 goals, while managing to win just one contest on own turf (W1 D2 L8). The team trails Fortuna Dusseldorf for the 16th place (the relegation play-off spot) by four points, but with a game in hand, while sitting eight points outside the drop-zone altogether. Werder Bremen’s last contest was a 2-2 road draw at Hertha Berlin on March 7, ending a five-game losing streak.

With seven strikes and four assists in 20 appearances this season, Kosovar forward Milot Rashica leads Werder Bremen’s attacking troops. Goalie Jiri Pavlenka, meanwhile, has made 23 starts thus far this year, ranking 6th in the league with 74 saves. He has posted one clean sheet and allows a goal every 39 minutes on average. Werder Bremen are bottom of the league in goals scored (27), 13th in most shots delivered (311) and 8th in overall ball possession (49.1%).

Bayer Leverkusen Fighting Hard

Bayer Leverkusen has finished in the Top 4 of the Bundesliga in seven of their last 10 seasons, reaching the 5th place on two of the other three occasions. So, don’t expect anything less from Die Werkself this year, with the team currently occupying the 5th position in the league with 47 points from 25 outings (W14 D5 L6), sitting just four points behind the 4th-placed RB Leipzig, who have played one extra game. Bayer Leverkusen is re-entering the current campaign on the back of a five-game unbeaten run (W4 D1), having recorded just one defeat in their last nine league fixtures (W7 D1 L1).

German striker Kevin Voland tops Bayer Leverkusen’s scoring chart, having notched up nine goals and seven assists in 22 appearances (21 starts) in Bundesliga this year. Goalie Lukas Hradecky, meanwhile, ranks 5th in the league in most shots saved (75), with eight clean sheets added from 25 games. He concedes a goal every 75 minutes of play. Bayer Leverkusen are 5th in most goals scored this season (45), 3rd in most shots recorded (378) and 2nd best in control of the ball (59.9%).

Prediction

Prior to the new Bundesliga campaign, both teams were tipped to battle for a Top 4 finish this year. That, however, has turned out true only for the usually reliable Bayer Leverkusen, who in case of a victory here could end up within a single point distance from the 4th place. Werder Bremen have been absolutely horrid on own turf this season, managing to post just a single victory in 11 tries (W1 D2 L8), losing six straight domestic contests dating back to Nov. 23. The team has failed to find the back of the net in five consecutive home fixtures, being outscored 13-0 in the process, while Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 10 straight games in all competitions (W9 D1), have dropped just one of their previous seven games against the Green-Whites (W3 D3 L1).

Best bets:

Bayer Leverkusen to win (-145)

‘No’ in Both Teams To Score market (+115)