Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin 21/09/19

21 September 2019

Struggling Bayer Leverkusen side will take on Union Berlin at the BayArena this weekend, looking to kick off a new winning streak.

After a promising start to the season and back-to-back wins in which they’ve scored three goals apiece and failed to keep a clean sheet, the hosts have slowed down in the last two league outings (D1, L1). While a 4-0 away loss to Borussia Dortmund seemed like a signal of a decline, a 2-1 home defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow in midweek’s Champions League clash should be assessed seriously by Peter Bosz. Facing the Bundesliga (BL) debutants whom they’ve outplayed in both previous competitive H2Hs (5-0 and 4-1) could be a perfect chance for Die Werkself to bounce back. Before a goalless home draw with TSG Hoffenheim a fortnight ago, Leverkusen have been regular on the scoresheet at this venue, scoring in nine consecutive BL home games while netting 2+ match goals seven times in the process.

On the other hand, the visitors have lost two of the opening four BL games (W1, D1, L2), but they’ve managed to claim a big scalp with a 3-1 home triumph over Borussia Dortmund. Union Berlin’s main issue ahead of this trip might be their inability to keep a clean sheet that has seen them concede in each of their BL fixtures this term, allowing over 1.5 match goals twice though. Interestingly, three of their four league matches have featured goals on both ends and seen Die Eisernen take a stalemate into the half-time. Also, a draw has been the most common outcome of Union Berlin’s trips lately, as five of their last seven away games in all competitions ended without a winner (W1, D5, L1).