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Leverkusen finished 3rd in Bundesliga last season and the team was looking brilliant under manager Sami Hyypia. Their ability to keep up that level was questioned in the summer, when they lost three of their best players (Carvajal, Schurrle, Kadlec) but it seems that this team has such a good chemistry and attitude that even losing this caliber of players will not hurt them. Bayern is playing the same spectacular and efficient football this season and they are just one point behing Dortmund and Bayern after 7 Bundesliga rounds – their best start in the Bundesliga ever! They won 6 games and lost against Schalke. In the Champions League Opener Leverkusen lost 2-4 at Manchester United but showed very good football, they could have maybe gotten a draw there.
I rated Sociedad pretty high at the start of the competition, but seeing how they were outplayed by a rebuilding Shakhter team in the first game at home (0-2), I am starting to think that maybe the mediocre level in Spain (except for the Top 3) is responsible for them reaching the Champions League group stages. The spaniards knocked out Lyon in the playoffs but the french side are very far away from what they used to be. Sociedad is on a horrific run of form at the moment, being winless in the last 6 games in all competitions. They seem to have lost the level of play they had last year.
Team news: Castro and Hegeler will not play for Bayer today. Real Sociedad has more squad problems to worry about. The Spanish team will miss Xabi Prieto, Irfan, Granero and Estrada, while Griezmann could remain on the bench.
Leverkusen won all home games this season and their attacking capabilities should see them create a lot of chances against Real Sociedad. Striker Kiessling will try to earn a rare Germany selection under the eyes of Joachim Low today, so expect the Leverkusen star to be at the top of his game. The spaniards are very poor up-front and I don’t think they will pose much threat to the germans. Sociedad scores under 1 goal per game in average. Leverkusen has the quality to qualify to the knockout stages and with a win here being mandatory, I think they will do the job. They have a better squad, they`re in much better form and playing at home is always a huge advantage for them. Over 2,5 also looks to be a decent choice but I think there`s a good chance for the visitors to remain scoreless and I’m not sure Leverkusen can win 3-0. They do have what it takes to cover the handicap though, so I`ll pick them to do exactly that with a very solid safety net in case of a 1 goal win. My pick is 2-0 for Bayer.
Pick: Leverkusen (-0,75 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.92 @ Ladbrokes
Stake: 7
Possible profit: 6.44
Event date: 2 October
Editor Facts
- Rostick won his tip on the Manchester United – Leverkusen first round match
