Dethroned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Borussia Dortmund to BayArena on Sunday in their second last match of the season.
Second-placed Leverkusen increased their points tally to 68 following their 2-2 stalemate with Freiburg on May 4 but the draw handed the title to Bayern Munich, while fifth-placed Dortmund have 51 points and still could qualify for the Champions League.
Match preview
The home side trailed 2-0 when Freiburg netted their second in their 48th minute but scored twice from the 82nd minute onwards to level the game, though they only created 0.29 xG across the 90 minutes.
Die Schwarzroten have managed to keep three clean sheets in their past five, but they only scored six goals in that time, whereas they had scored eight in their prior three.
Supporters were hit with confirmation on Friday that boss Xabi Alonso will leave the club in the summer, with the Spaniard strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Leverkusen emerged as 3-2 victors against Dortmund in the league on January 10, but that was their only win against the visitors in five matches, losing two of those fixtures.
Alonso’s side are unbeaten in their five most recent outings but were held to three stalemates in that period.
Die Werkself’s performances at home have also been mixed, as while they have won two and drawn one of their past three at BayArena, they suffered two defeats and settled for one draw in their previous three at the stadium.
As for Borussia Dortmund, they trounced Wolfsburg 4-0 on May 3, creating four big chances and generating nearly 2.5 xG.
Head coach Niko Kovac will be delighted by his side’s attacking displays considering his players have netted 12 goals in their last four matches, though they also conceded five in that time.
BVB currently occupy the division’s Europa League spot but are just one point from fourth-placed Freiburg, who hold the top flight’s final Champions League spot.
The Black and Yellows come into Sunay’s game on the back of four consecutive wins in all competitions, and they have also won five of their last six in the Bundesliga while drawing one.
Dortmund’s form on the road has not been particularly consistent given they have triumphed in two, drawn one and been defeated in two of their past five away from home.
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen defenders Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso and Nordi Mukiele are injured, but stalwarts Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie are available.
Granit Xhaka has been key to Alonso’s success in Germany, and the Spaniard is likely to start him in midfield alongside Aleix Garcia.
Forward Florian Wirtz is certain to appear, and he may play in attack next to Emiliano Buendia and Patrik Schick.
Dortmund only have two notable absentees, with centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck not scheduled to return until October and attacker Maximilian Beier likely to be available shortly after the season ends in late May.
Kovac has utilised a back three during his time as boss, and he may select Niklas Sule, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini in defence.
Striker Serhou Guirassy will be looking to add to his tally of 32 goals in all competitions, though he could be heavily reliant on the service of Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Buendia; Schick
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Nmecha, Gross, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund
Leverkusen may come into the game devoid of confidence following the confirmation that they have lost their title to Bayern Munich.
Dortmund have also found goalscoring form in the final stages of the 2024-25 campaign, and they will back themselves to net on multiple occasions.
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