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Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag Match Preview and Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag: In fewer than four months, Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen will clash four times. Following their Group H top two finishes, the two teams met again in the last-16 draw. After a 2-2 first-leg stalemate, the tie is open, although the Germans are favorites to win at home.
Bayer Leverkusen has won 13 of their previous 15 games in all competitions and drawn two. Four of the previous five Europa League games saw Qarabag concede two goals or more. This season, Leverkusen scored 14 goals at home in three group stage matches.
Xabi Alonso changed his starting team for the opening leg of this tie in Azerbaijan seven days ago. Last week in Baku, Qarabag seized an early two-goal lead, which may have cost the Spanish manager. Florian Wirtz and Patrick Schick, two of Alonso’s five second-half replacements, scored to give Die Werkself a 2-2 tie.
With a 2-0 victory over a ten-man Wolfsburg at home over the weekend, Bayer maintained their ten-point lead atop the Bundesliga standings. Qarabag defeated Zira 3-1 on Sunday afternoon in their domestic league match without encountering any issues. After 26 rounds, Qurban Qurbanov’s team leads the Azerbaijani Premier Liqa by 24 points.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag: Betting Analysis
Bayer Leverkusen defeated Qarabag twice in the group stage. Their 5-1 home win over Azerbaijan in October last year was stunning. Seven days earlier in Baku, Qarabag and Die Werkself drew 2-2. Xabi Alonso shuffled his starting team heavily. Two of the three Bayer-Qarabag matches had both teams score.
This season, Bayer Leverkusen is a hot European team. They have won 13 games and drawn 2 in the last 15 across competitions. This season, Xabi Alonso’s team has 21 victories and 4 ties in 25 Bundesliga matches. They reached the DFB Pokal semi-finals after topping their Europa League group with six wins in six games.
We don’t expect Xabi Alonso to rotate with the Europa League quarterfinals at stake. Bayer’s best team should beat the Azerbaijani champions on Thursday, as they did in October last year when Die Werkself won 5-1. Bayer Leverkusen to win the -2.5 Asian Handicap at 2.25 odds is the major bet.
Bayer Leverkusen should win by halftime on Thursday due to the huge talent gap between these teams. Qarabag aren’t defensive. Four of their past five Europa League matches, including both knockout stage games versus Sporting Braga, saw at least two goals. Alternatively, we’ll support over 1.5 goals in the first half at 1.90.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag: Head-to-Head
Who will win the match between Bayer Leverkusen and Qarabag?
We believe Bayer Leverkusen can create several chances and shots on goal. Qarabağ may struggle to score goals, but we anticipate them to do so. At full-time, Bayer Leverkusen has a controlled lead.
Our Prediction: Home Win
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What are the best odds for the game?
Looking at the full-time outcome market betting prices, you can get 1.18 by betting on Bayer Leverkusen, 8.4 by betting on the game finishing all-square, and 15 by betting on Qarabağ to win. These are currently the most affordable prices available.
