Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Werder Bremen parted ways with coach Viktor Skripnik after their 4-1 defeat away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday four. The North German’s five consecutive competitive defeats (4 Bundesliga and 1 DFB Pokal) was their worst start to a season ever. Alexander Nouri, who took over the reins “interim coach” before Werder Bremen’s fixture at home to Mainz 05 got Bremen up and running on his second attempt with a dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg and continued on their third with an exciting 2-2 draw away to Darmstadt 98. Nouri handed starts to several players from the under-23’s who have seemingly invigorated the deflated side. Nouri has now been handed the job permanently for his efforts.

Bayer Leverkusen have finally found themselves in decent form after a shaky start to the season, taking seven points from their last three matches (W2 D1). Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been their standout performer, tallying a massive five goals in their last three competitive fixtures. He scored a “perfect” hat-trick (one left-footed, one right-footed, and one headed goal) in Leverkusen’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mainz 05, one in their 1-1 draw away to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League, and another in their impressive 2-0 win at home to title contenders Dortmund last time out. He’d be our bet for an anytime goalscorer at 10/11 with bet365.

While Bayer Leverkusen come into this as strong favourites for the bookies at 13/20, we feel that goals are the safer and better value bet here. Bayer Leverkusen are clearly a decent side who can handle the best the Bundesliga has to offer, but Leverkusen know too well that Bremen’s style of football can catch teams off guard. Werder Bremen were in the middle of a “crisis” and without a win in seven when the two sides met for the 2nd time last season when the North German’s relentless and somewhat reckless performance overwhelmed Leverkusen in a 4-1 win. Simply looking back over Bremen’s recent Bundesliga results shows how entertaining the side can be – over 2.5 goals and both teams to score has landed in 16 of their 23 (70%) Bundesliga matches in 2016. Combine this with Leverkusen’s equally high scoring away results – over 2.5 and both teams to score has landed in 8 of their last 10 on the road – and we have a recipe for plenty of goals.

As such, over 2.5 goals and both teams to score at 10/11 and Bayer Leverkusen to win 2-1 at 7/1 with bet365 are our choice bets for this match.