Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction: Defending champs set for comfortable opener

Bayer Leverkusen produced one of the best league performances in modern European football last season as they went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga, finishing some 17 points clear of runners-up Stuttgart.

Now they get their title defence under way against Borussia Monchengladbach, who stayed up by just a single point last season. Read on for my Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Borges Sanches and goalkeeper Jan Olschowsky will be absent for Borussia Monchengladbach as they recover from knee injuries.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Martin Terrier was sent off last week in the Super Cup but won’t serve his suspension in the Bundesliga.

Exequiel Palacios will be absent, however, so expect Aleix Garcia to partner Granit Xhaka in midfield.

Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo all look likely to return to the starting lineup after featuring from the bench last time out.

Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds

Bayer Leverkusen can be backed at 1/2 for the victory, while Borussia Monchengladbach are 4/1 outsiders and the draw is available at 16/5.

Over 2.5 goals is on offer at 1/2, while both teams to score is priced at 4/7 and it is 6/5 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Bayer Leverkusen win to nil @ 2/1

Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable campaign last season was built on solid defensive foundations, they conceded just 24 times in 34 league games, and they may be able to shut out Borussia Monchengladbach in this game.

There were rumours that Xabi Alonso was set to depart at the end of their historic season, with a move to Liverpool mooted. However he decided to stick with the Bundesliga winners and will be hoping he can deny Bayern Munich and new manager Vincent Kompany again this term.

His team kept clean sheets in both of their meetings with Monchengladbach last season and in fact recorded wins to nil in 15 of their 34 league matches.

They can add to that tally for the new season with a victory without conceding against their hosts, who stayed up only just last term and look likely to be outclassed.

Florian Wirtz to score at any time @ 2/1

Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala made a big impact for Germany at Euro 2024 and the youngsters look set to improve once again this season.

Wirtz netted 11 league goals in 26 starts for Bayer Leverkusen last term and looks overpriced to get his first of the new campaign against a Borussia Monchengladbach side that conceded 67 times in 34 matches in 2023/24.

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