Borussia M'gladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Borussia M’gladbach stood within the relegation zone after six matches of the 2015/16 campaign, a feat they do not look to repeat coming into the new season. The hosts were a team reborn once Andre Schubert replaced Lucien Favre as coach last September, a change which saw them end the season fourth in the Bundesliga and the third highest scoring team in the division. The question now is whether the five-time Bundesliga champions can emulate their 1970s glory years and re-establish themselves as a permanent fixture in the upper tier of the top flight. M’gladbach have some of the most promising young players in the Bundesliga and the permenant signing return of FIFA World Cup winner Christoph Kramer has lifted spirits after captain Granit Xhaka departed to Arsenal earlier this summer.

Coach Roger Schmidt of Leverkusen has forged a team that aren’t only solid at the back, only Bayern and Dortmund conceded few last season, but also break forward at pace on the counter-attack. In his third full season at the BayArena, he managed his best league finish as coach, finishing 3rd. There is cautious optimism at the Bay-arena that the 49-year-old might be the man to take the title away from FC Bayern München or Borussia Dortmund for the first time since the 2008/09 season, especially after some decent summer signings. Winger Kevin Volland has hit the ground running since joining from TSG Hoffenheim over the transfer window, scoring five goals in his four games to date. He has been capped six times for Germany and has formed a quick understanding with Chicharito, assisting the Mexican in Leverkusen’s 1-1 draw with FC Porto. Unfortunately for the visitors, they will have to manage without their Mexican star striker for two weeks after he tripped and broke his hand earlier this week.

Borussia M’gladbach come into their opening Bundesliga match on a high after their 6-1 second leg win at home to Young Boys saw them qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages through a 9-2 aggregate win. Brazilian centre forward Raffael was the star of the show, being involved in five of their six goals through a hat-trick and two assists. He was the only player other than Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan to register double figures for both goals and assists in 2015/16 and looks certain to continue that form coming into this season. Though Bayer Leverkusen are also in decent pre-season form, coming into this unbeaten in nine consecutive fixtures, they will sorely miss striker Chicharito (17 goals in 28 appearances last season) and captain Lars Bender. Leverkusen know all too well that BORUSSIA PARK is a fortress for any visiting team – their last defeat was away to M’gladbach in May earlier this year – and if M’gladbach’s midweek performance in the Champions League is anything to go by, we should expect them to come out guns blazing on Saturday.

Considering Leverkusen’s injury problems and M’gladbach’s strong home form (see statistics), we find the home side to be worth a bet here. Borussia M’gladbach to win at 13/10 and Borussia M’gladbach to win 3-1 at 16/1 are our choice bets for this Bundesliga match.