In this article…
Kaiserslautern v Bayer Leverkusen
📅
Kick Off: Saturday 25th May at 19:00
🏆
Competition: DFB Pokal Final
📺
Watch Live: Premier Sports 1
Bayer Leverkusen have the opportunity to bounce back from their first – and perhaps only – defeat of the season on Saturday when they face 2. Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal final.
Andy’s Bet Club has covered you for this week’s footballing action, with plenty of expert predictions including European football accumulator tips, Sunday European football acca tips, European football predictions, and plenty more expert football betting tips across Europe’s best fixtures, including our brand-new both teams to score tips.
We have also tracked all the best free bets for UK customers and the best bet builder bookmakers, to ensure our readers get the best bang for their buck.
Our DFB Pokal final predictions are generously priced on Paddy Power, and for more information on the pros and cons of the bookie, you can read our in-depth bookmaker review.
B04 were outclassed 3-0 by Atalanta in Dublin in midweek and face what will be a unique test for them: responding after a major setback.
Of course, Xabi Alonso’s side start as massive favourites in Berlin on Saturday. Kaiserslautern finished in the lower half of the second tier, far closer to relegation than promotion, and if they were to go home with the cup, it would be a monumental upset.
💰 Kaiserslautern v Bayer Leverkusen Best Bets
Bayer Leverkusen will surely respond to their midweek defeat with one last effort to win the trophy. At 1.11 to win in 90 minutes, there is little value, but backing them with a -1 handicap at 1.44 looks like strong value.
📂 Kaiserslautern v Bayer Leverkusen Cheat Sheet
There are so many ways to use our Cheat Sheets and we encourage you to find your formula to pick a winning bet builder, however, if you’re unsure of how to use a Cheat Sheet, just click the link for some quick tips to help you make the most of it.
⚔️ Kaiserslautern v Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-Head
Kaiserslautern are a fallen giant of German football. Indeed, this four-time Bundesliga winner was in the third division until just a couple of seasons ago and have been without top-flight football since 2011/12, when they finished bottom.
As such, there is little meaningful head-to-head record between these clubs. Each of their latest meetings have come in the DFB Pokal, with both games ending scoreless in Leverkusen. Each team won one each in extra time, Leverkusen taking the latest of these matches, which was back in 2015, 2-0.
Current Kaiserslautern captain Jean Zimmer played in the most recent of these games but there are no survivors from the Leverkusen squad that day still playing.
📊 Kaiserslautern Form and Stats
Kaiserslautern have worked their way to the DFB Pokal final without beating any strong opponents. FC Koln were their strongest opponents en route to the showpiece, yet they finished the Bundesliga campaign comfortably relegated, having won only five of 34 matches. They face a massive step up.
Die Roten Teufel finished the 2.Bundesliga in 13th, posting 11 wins to 17 defeats, with their games averaging an astonishing 3.62 goals. Only bottom side Osnabruck conceded more than the 64 they leaked in the league, which is hardly encouraging against such a potent offensive team.
They did, however, score 59 of their own, which was the best tally in the lower half of the league.
Of these goals, 13 arrived in the final four matches, showing they are in good form in front of the target.
Marlon Ritter is in especially good form and is one to watch at 5.5 to score anytime. The midfielder has scored five goals in his last four appearances, playing the entire 90 minutes in each of the last two games after being a replacement in successive matches. He has shots on target in eight of his last nine starts.
On the fouls market, left winger Kenny Redondo is one to watch. He has committed exactly three fouls in four of his last five starts, and given he will be up against Jeremie Frimpong, who is a direct runner, the 29-year-old could easily find himself in disciplinary trouble again.
📊 Bayer Leverkusen Form and Stats
Leverkusen had been devastating in recent games before their midweek defeat, which throws an element of the unknown into the equation for this game. How will Alonso’s side react? Will there be a feeling of revenge after their midweek display or will they be simply deflated?
Certainly, there was none of their habitual verve on display against Atalanta. They had created at least 2xG in their previous five matches scoring two in six successive games but mustered only 0.7xG against the Italians. It was just the second time all season they had been shut out. Thankfully for B04, Kaiserslautern are unlikely to be as ruthless with their pressing.
Victor Boniface or Patrick Schick is likely to be recalled after both being overlooked in what was a rare tactical blunder by Alonso in midweek. The Spaniard, though, has a reputation for springing surprises in his team selection so another cannot be ruled out here.
Similarly, Florian Wirtz should be expected to start after being entirely quelled in midweek. He has 18 goals and 19 assists across 38 appearances in all competitions but has only started two of the last six.
With team selection uncertain, the corner market can offer some respite. Bayer win a high volume of these situations. Indeed, across their last 20 matches, they have won at least five corners on 19 occasions. Expect an even bigger figure against a weak opponent.
Similarly, Leverkusen are no angels. They have picked up at least three bookings in six of their last nine. While such a volume is unlikely against a weak opponent, if they start to get frustrated, this is a possibility at 3.6.
* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
