RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen 01/03/20

1 March 2020

Encouraged by a 3-1 away win over Porto in the UEFA Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen return to the Bundesliga (BL) action this weekend, as they travel to the Red Bull Arena to take on RB Leipzig.

The hosts are unbeaten in four successive BL games (W2, D2), having kept a clean sheet in three and scored over 1.5 match goals three times, too. Additionally, since a 3-1 defeat to Schalke back in September, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have racked up an eight-game unbeaten BL home run (W6, D2), with all six of their successes during that stretch seeing Leipzig score over 2.5 goals and win via a multiple-goal margin. Particularly dangerous after the break, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have netted 58% (18) of their 31 BL home goals in the second half, finding the net at least once in the final 15 minutes of play in eight of 11 league home fixtures (BL high). Another ‘high-scoring affair’ is on the cards again, considering both of their previous top-flight home clashes against Bayer saw the winner on the day prevail by a three-goal margin (W1, L1).

In the meantime, the visitors have enjoyed a flying start to the new calendar year, picking up five triumphs in six BL outings since the turn of 2020 (L1). Interestingly, three of their last four league results (win/loss) saw both teams score in the first half, with the winner in those matches consistently arriving beyond the hour mark. Delivering action late in the second half, ‘Die Werkself’ have found the net inside the final 15 minutes of play in three of their last four BL road trips (W3, L1). If they concede the opening goal, as they’ve done in 36.36% of 11 BL away games this season, Peter Bosz’s men could find themselves in a bit of trouble – Leverkusen have lost three of four BL road matches in which they’ve allowed the opener (W1).