The Bundesliga heats up as Borussia Dortmund hosts Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park in what promises to be an electrifying encounter.
With Leverkusen eyeing to extend their unbeaten streak and Dortmund aiming to upset the league leaders, anticipation runs high for a thrilling showdown on Sunday afternoon.
Match Preview
Bayer Leverkusen secured their spot in the Europa League semi-finals after defeating West Ham United, maintaining their unbeaten run in the 2023-24 season.
Already crowned Bundesliga champions with five games remaining, Xabi Alonso’s team faces Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday afternoon.
Similarly successful in Europe, Dortmund reached the Champions League semi-finals by defeating Atletico Madrid.
Edin Terzic’s team convincingly beat the Spanish side 4-2 on Tuesday, setting up a semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain following a 5-4 aggregate victory.
In the Bundesliga, Dortmund won five of their last six matches, including a 2-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
Despite losing only two of their last 15 league games, BVB finds themselves outside the top four on goal difference. Can they upset the odds this weekend?
Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with West Ham on Thursday, securing their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win.
Remaining undefeated in all competitions this season, Alonso’s team recorded 38 wins and six draws in 2023-24.
Last weekend, Leverkusen clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title with a resounding 5-0 win over Werder Bremen, with Florian Wirtz scoring a hat-trick.
Consequently, Bayer heads into Sunday’s match on a 10-game winning streak in the league, keeping a clean sheet in 50% of those games.
Head-to-Head:
Borussia Dortmund held Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in December.
It’s noteworthy that BVB won four of their last six Bundesliga meetings with Leverkusen, with only one defeat.
Team News & Updates:
Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi is suspended after receiving a red card last weekend, while Ramy Bensebaini, Sebastien Haller, and Donyell Malen are injured.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Amine Adli is suspended, while Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias are sidelined due to injury.
Prediction & Analysis:
Despite Dortmund’s strong home record against Leverkusen, the visitors’ exceptional form and defensive solidity make them favorites for victory.
Leverkusen’s attacking prowess, coupled with Dortmund’s defensive vulnerabilities, suggests an uphill battle for the hosts.
While Dortmund may push Leverkusen to the limit, the league champions are expected to emerge victorious, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a convincing win.
- Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
