Having won their opening two league games in 2023, Die Borussen can start a new calendar year with three Bundesliga triumphs on the trot for only the fourth time in their top-flight history. Unfortunately for Terzic, his lads have been the epitome of inconsistency on the road this season, registering four wins and five losses across their nine Bundesliga travels to date. Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund Potential Line-upsBayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Lucas Hradecky; Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie; Jeremie Frimpong, Exequiel Palacios, Robert Andrich, Mitchell Bakker; Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby; Adam Hlozek.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-upsBayer Leverkusen’s valiant attempt to join the Champions League race faces another daunting task as Borussia Dortmund arrive at the BayArena on Sunday. Following a woeful eight-game Bundesliga start (W1, D2, L5), Leverkusen sacked Gerardo Seoane in October, appointing Xabi Alonso as his successor, which has proved a resounding success thus far. Only three teams in Germany’s top flight can better Die Werkself’s tally of 19 points since Alonso’s arrival, with the Spaniard turning his side from relegation strugglers into viable European candidates. Not even the extended mid-season halt tempered the hosts’ momentum, as they’ve opened the new calendar year with back-to-back league wins after entering the World Cup break on a three-game winning run.
Leverkusen comfortably dispatched bottom-half Bochum 2-0 in midweek Bundesliga action on home turf to set themselves up nicely for a mouth-watering contest against perennial top-four tenants Dortmund. Edin Terzic’s men have turned their fortunes around upon the Bundesliga resumption in 2023, going from consecutive league defeats to two victories in a row, including a last-gasp 2-1 win at Mainz on Wednesday. However, there’s no time for celebration, with Die Borussen commencing this round in fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and only two clear of sixth-placed Wolfsburg. Leverkusen lag seven points behind their visitors at the start of this matchday, so the continuation of their eye-catching five-game winning streak in the Bundesliga could be paramount to their top-four ambitions. Match PreviewBayer LeverkusenAfter last season’s third-place finish, Leverkusen are seeking consecutive Champions League qualifications for the first time in seven years, with Alonso proving more than capable of leading them to that goal.