Bayer Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2022-10-21 13:30.
The introduction of Xabi Alonso as Bayer Leverkusen manager has done little to remedy their woes, as since a 4-0 win over strugglers Schalke in his first game, Leverkusen have gone on to concede eight goals across two defeats. A DFB-Pokal elimination to third-tier Elversberg earlier in the campaign inadvertently gifted Leverkusen more time to prepare for this, which they may well need after making their worst ever ten-game Bundesliga start in the three points for a win era.
Playing in the Champions League whilst occupying a Bundesliga relegation place is certainly a jarring experience, yet Leverkusen will likely need to end a run of 12 straight H2Hs in which the home side on the day failed to win if they’re to pull away. Fixing their defence will be key to that goal, as Leverkusen have conceded over 20 goals at this stage of a campaign for only the second time since the turn of the century!
A 2-1 cup win over second-tier Braunschweig during midweek served to extend Wolfsburg’s unbeaten run to four games (W2, D2). However a return of just two wins from the opening ten Bundesliga rounds (D4, L4) has contributed to this still being a worse ten-game start than in seven of the Wolves’ last nine campaigns, leaving them at risk of being leapfrogged by Leverkusen with defeat.
There aren’t many more fruitful hunting grounds for the Wolves than the BayArena though, as Niko Kovač’s men are unbeaten here since 2016 (W4, D2), while scoring 2.5 goals per match on average across that streak. However it’s not all rosy for Wolfsburg, as Kovač has not lost to a single side more often than his five personal defeats against Leverkusen (W2).
Players to watch: Moussa Diaby has contributed to three of the five Leverkusen goals under Alonso’s fledgeling reign to date (G1, A2), though he’s yet to score against Wolfsburg in his career. Perhaps even more crucial to Wolfsburg is midfielder Yannick Gerhardt, as his side have picked up eight points when he’s played (W2, D2, L1), yet just two when he didn’t (D2, L3).
Hot stat: Eight of Leverkusen’s ten Bundesliga games have produced over 2.5 goals – that’s a league-high!