- Home form: Leverkusen are unbeaten at home across all competitions (W3, D1), conceding just two goals in four games.
- Away form: Union have been leaky on the road across all competitions (W2, D2, L3).
- Head-to-head: Werkself have the edge in the head-to-head having won three of the last five meetings (D1, W1).
Odds on the short side
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have started the new season with a bang across all competitions (W7, D1, L2), while Union Berlin have been in a mixed bag, so there are a few reasons why the odds makers have got it wrong for Saturday's matchup at BayArena. The Werkself will come into this game as huge favourites at 1.47, with Die Eisernen sitting at 5.8 and the draw at 4.6, but we feel that all of these numbers have short odds.
Leverkusen are on a two-game winning run heading into this, having sailed through their first DFB-Pokal assignment with a 4-0 win at SV Wehen Wiesbaden before defeating Newcastle 2-1 in a friendly last time out.
Leverkusen look to control the play
Tactical approach
Carles Martínez has got his team playing in a very structured, possession-based style of play, but they do have a plan to it which is quite different to their previous iteration. They build from the back, create layers in midfield and attack with wing-backs, which can be a nightmare for opponents if they get caught in transition.
Union Berlin's new boss Mauro Lustrinelli has brought more of an active, vertical edge to the team in the early stages, with a sharper pressing game and a little more urgency when they win the ball back.
Key players
- Patrik Schick has been the danger man for the Werkself in this early part of the season, bagging four goals in their last five and he's backed up by an attack that have been in fine form of late.
- Ilyas Ansah has been Die Eisernen's sharpest spark in their recent games, hitting two of their six goals across the last five, and an away win for the visitors six months ago means they are well aware of how to get it done in Leverkusen.
Union can make this close
Union have had a mixed start to the season, winning 3-2 at home to Aris Limmasol before losing 4-2 at home to Ipswich Town and then beating TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 4-2 in the DFB-Pokal away from home.
Leverkusen will look to dominate possession here and control the matchup, but Union's press could catch them out and that's why this should be a more competitive game than the odds suggest.
Over 2.5 goals at 1.44 has its merits but Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.55 also appeals as the best play here. Leverkusen should have the wherewithal to get the job done at home but Union's transition threat should keep this close enough for a couple of goals.
