Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction: 10/1/2025

Borussia Dortmund’s season so far has been disappointing, leaving both the management and fans at the WestfalenStadion frustrated. As a team expected to compete with Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title, Dortmund has struggled with inconsistency and missed chances, putting them in sixth place. Although they are only two points behind third, they trail league leaders Bayern Munich by a significant 11 points. Before the winter break, Dortmund endured a series of three consecutive 1-1 draws against Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Hoffenheim, finally breaking the streak with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. In the Champions League, they currently sit in ninth place and remain in contention for direct qualification to the Round of 16.

Bayer Leverkusen, last season’s unexpected Bundesliga champions, continue to showcase their strength. Currently second in the league and four points behind Bayern, Leverkusen has maintained impressive form under Xabi Alonso. They secured five consecutive victories before the break, defeating Heidenheim 5-2, Union Berlin 2-1, Sankt Pauli 2-1, Augsburg 2-0, and Freiburg 5-1. In the Champions League, they are well-positioned in fourth place, with strong prospects of reaching the knockout stages in the final two group-stage matches.

Dortmund faces several challenges with player absences ahead of their next game. Defenders Süle and Filippo Mané are sidelined with injuries, while full-back Ryerson is out due to illness. Midfielder Sabitzer remains doubtful, and Gross is unavailable due to suspension after his red card in their last match. Despite these setbacks, Guirassy leads the team with six Bundesliga goals, followed by Gittens with five, and Malen and Beier with three each. However, Guirassy’s form this season has not matched his exceptional performances with Stuttgart last year.

Leverkusen also has their share of injury concerns. Amine Adli, sidelined with a serious ankle injury sustained during a Champions League match against Brest, is not expected back until March. Hofmann and striker Boniface are also doubtful, with Boniface unlikely to play. Czech forward Patrick Schick, fresh off scoring four goals against Freiburg before the break, is likely to lead the attack. Schick has nine Bundesliga goals this season, while Florian Wirtz, one of the league’s standout players with seven goals and seven assists, remains a pivotal figure for Leverkusen.

Prediction

Given the offensive strengths of both teams and their defensive vulnerabilities, a high-scoring game is expected. Dortmund has seen over 2.5 goals in six of their last nine Bundesliga matches, while 14 of Leverkusen’s last 17 games have featured at least three goals. All signs point to a match with plenty of scoring opportunities.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen.