Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Bayer Leverkusen Predictions

Fortuna Dusseldorf’s 19/20 season started as remarkably as their 18/19 season ended. Their 3-1 victory at Werder Bremen was their first opening day win in six years, with USA international goalkeeper Zack Steffen putting in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance after producing a league-high 10 saves.

Dusseldorf coped well without Belgian duo Dodi Lukebakio and Benito Raman – both left the club over the summer – as last season’s third-top scorer Rouwen Hennings and Kenan Karaman both got off the mark. Coach Friedhelm Funkel is unlikely to tinker with his forward line too much in a bid to cement a new partnership.

For their part, Leverkusen looked devastating going forward in their 3-2 win over Paderborn last weekend. Kai Havertz, Kevin Volland and Leon Bailey all got themselves on the scoresheet in that game and no doubt they’ll cause a vulnerable Dusseldorf’s backline all sorts of trouble again on Saturday.

Peter Bosz will, however, have to address his defensive issues at some point. His side might have scored two within 20 minutes last weekend, but they also conceded two by the half-hour mark as well. To that end, the continued absences of defenders Mitchell Weiser and Daley Sinkgraven are untimely.

Leverkusen’s football under Bosz is, for the meantime, entertaining at the least. They’ve averaged over two goals scored per game since he took over, so it’s no surprise to see them as favourites this weekend. However, with Dusseldorf off to a good start too, it’s hard to imagine they keep a clean sheet against them – Leverkusen kept a clean sheet in just 18% of away days last term.

Fortuna Dusseldorf don’t have a particularly good track record against their Rhein river neighbours though, having won just one of their last 12 Bundesliga meetings against Leverkusen (W1 D6 L5). And in terms of expected goals last weekend, they registered just 1.02 to Bremen’s 2.01 in their 3-1 win, so their defence also needs some work – they can’t be relying on keeper Steffen to save them every week.

As such, we’re recommending a bet on the visitors to win in combination with ‘both teams scoring’, something that landed in 71% of Leverkusen’s away days last season. And with Bosz’s side much better on the eye than Dusseldorf, scoring at least three goals in four of their last five Bundesliga outings, we can’t see past a comfortable away win. Our prediction: 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen.