Bayer Leverkusen vs Paderborn Predictions

Bayer Leverkusen were one of the most exciting teams to watch last season after former-Dortmund manager Peter Bosz took over in December. Implementing a highly aggressive style of football, Leverkusen were frequently involved in five or six goal thrillers in what can only be called a turbulent 18/19 season.

Leverkusen ended the season in great form though, winning five of their last six matches, and the early signs for the 19/20 campaign are promising too. Star players Kai Havertz, Kevin Volland, and Leon Bailey all got goals in their 4-1 DFB Cup win at fourth-tier Alemannia last weekend, while Kerem Demirbay and Nadiem Amiri look up for the challenge of replacing the departed Julian Brandt.

No team has had more of a rollercoaster few years than SC Paderborn, though, who are back in the German top-flight after four years – they went all the way to the 3. Liga and back in that time! Unfortunately for them, things don’t bode well ahead of the new campaign.

Paderborn’s transfer business this summer has consisted of selling their best players, such as top scorer Phillipp Klement, and reinvesting in free transfers from lower league sides. Coach Steffen Baumgart is also preparing for his first managerial stint in the Bundesliga, meaning this will no doubt be one of the toughest games of his career.

Only Dortmund, Bayern and RB Leipzig recorded more home wins than Leverkusen last term – a team which has also averaged over two goals scored per game since Bosz took over – so it’s no surprise to see them as big favourites. And against a Paderborn side that conceded three to a fourth-tier side in their DFB Pokal first-round game last Sunday, it’s hard to think anything different.

Looking back to their last stint in the German top flight, Paderborn were not a good travelling side – in fact, they lost five of their last six on the road to nil. Away trips were not good news for Paderborn last season either. Despite finishing as runners up in the Bundesliga 2, they actually held the sixth-worst away record, losing under just half of their matches on the road.

As such, we’re recommending a bet on the hosts in combination with ‘over 2.5 goals’, something that landed in 65% of Leverkusen’s and 68% of Paderborn’s league games in 2018/19. And with Leverkusen scoring at least two goals in six of their last six at the BayArea, we reckon Leverkusen have a good shot at running riot. Our prediction: 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen.