Bundesliga Leaders Aiming to Remain the Real Deal

Bayer Leverkusen vs SC Freiburg

Expect an atmospheric BayArena and potential Bundesliga highlights on Sunday teatime.

The leaders welcome Freiburg to town and they have no intention of losing their place at the summit.

Following a strong transfer window, which included the arrivals of Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann, Bayer Leverkusen were tipped for a strong campaign, but few would have predicted this sparkling run of form.

A record start to the Bundesliga season – unbeaten in their first eight matches, winning seven and drawing one, and netting a sensational 25 goals in the process – has seen them hold their own in top spot.

Indeed, they have led the Bundesliga after five of the eight matchdays so far.

What chance that continuing this weekend?

Talking Points

Certainly, since Xabi Alonso took the helm for the Black and Reds, they’ve been quietly making their presence felt as one of the top clubs in Germany.

His free-flowing philosophy is not only having a big impact but the 2-2 draw with champions Bayern Munich last month was also a marker for their title credentials.

Only twice before have Bayer won their first five home games of a campaign (1986/87 and 2003/04) and now they are aiming to equal that marker.

Alonso – who is set to oversee a half a century of games at the Leverkusen helm – has Patrik Schick back in the fold this weekend, the striker having finally returned following 226 days on the sidelines. The Czech forward will have his work cut out trying to unseat his team’s seven-goal top scorer Victor Boniface, who is primed to start as Leverkusen aim to maintain their 100 per cent home record.

Leverkusen warmed up for this one with a 5-1 Europa League victory over Azerbaijan minnows Qarabag.

Alejandro Grimaldo’s brace helped them maintain their 100 per cent record in the Europa League group stages.

Florian Wirtz benefited from Grimaldo’s deflected cross to slot home the opener and then, after they were pegged back, Grimaldo grabbed his first and Boniface hammered home from 20 yards.

Grimaldo wrapped up his brace following Wirtz’s cutback pass before Edmond Tapsoba rounded off the scoring.

At the same time, Freiburg were winning 3-1 at Serbian outfit Backa Topola in the same competition, thanks to a second half hat-trick from Vincenzo Grifo.

All the goals came within 24 minutes as Grifo converted a penalty in the 49th, a free-kick 10 minutes later, and in the 73rd had all the time in the world to control a cross from Ritsu Doan before netting into the bottom left corner.

It’s certainly not easy to juggle the combination of domestic and European duties for either club and, like Alonso, Freiburg manager Christian Streich is trying to manage the load of his top players.

Despite not enjoying as prolific a start to the campaign compared to recent seasons, the Black Forest side are in the top half of the table and have the likes of Grifo and Doan hitting form at just the right time. The one complaint Streich had following their 2-1 victory against Bochum last weekend was that Freiburg “weren’t clinical enough.”

Freiburg – whose injury list now also includes Maximilian Philipp and Roland Sallai alongside captain Christian Günter and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh – will have to take any chances that come their way on Sunday if they are to take something.

It helps that they have the in-form Grifo who has been directly involved in each of Freiburg’s last six Bundesliga goals, scoring two and setting up four. He also has three goals and six assists against Leverkusen.

The hosts will have to be wary of him.

History

This game was a five-goal thriller last term and was won by the visitors.

Kerem Demirbay and Schick scored the goals for the hosts but there was no denying Freiburg as Matthias Ginter, Michael Gregoritsch and Doan netted in 24 minutes.

That was in September last year and the return match in February ended 1-1 when Serdar Azmoun cancelled out Grifo’s opener.

Leverkusen have only won one of their past six clashes. That was in May 2022 when Exequiel Palacios scored a 97^th minute winner in a 2-1 home victory,

Overall, Leverkusen have 15 wins in their meetings with seven Freiburg successes and eight draws.

Betting Tip

Leverkusen are tipped to stay top with victory, according to the SBOTOP Bundesliga betting odds.

You can back them 1X2 @ 1.28, First Half 1X2 @ @ 1.76, Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.07 and First Half Adian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.08.

Despite Freiburg’s progress, the draw is even unlikely given it’s priced 1X2 @ 5.40.

As second highest scorers in the division, Leverkusen could be expected to score a few and you can find odds of over 3.25 goals @ 2.09, Total Goal 0-1 @ 5.20, 2-3 @ 2.13 and 4-6 @ 2.53.

If Freiburg are going to repeat last season’s 3-2 success, then you will earn a tidy payday of @ 125.00 with Correct Score.

I think Leverkusen will win this one but will be pushed for a while, so my ** prediction is Half Time Full Time Draw Home @ 3.90.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.