Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin — Tips & Analysis

Union Berlin +1.5: Leverkusen are in no shape to hammer anyone right now. They lost 3-2 away at promoted Elversberg on the opening weekend and sit 14th with no points. Their attack has been stripped back too. Nathan Tella, Guela Doue, Culbreath and Eichhorn are all out, with Ben Seghir and Terrier doubtful. Big wins were rare even before that. Leverkusen have won by 2 or more goals in only 3 of their last 12 games. Union Berlin arrive in decent form. They have not lost in their last five games, and they tied the last one 3-3 with Frankfurt. They score almost 2 goals a game, so they carry a threat from set pieces and on the break. The history here points to a close game as well. The last five meetings finished 0-1, 2-0, 0-0, 2-1 and 1-0, so nobody has been beaten badly in this one for years. Both sides have had 7 days off. A 2-1 Leverkusen win is the likely score, and Union staying within a goal is what this pick is built on. The caution is Union's back line. They are missing centre backs Marvin Friedrich and Markgraf plus Nsoki, and goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow is a doubt. They let in more than 2 goals a game on the road, so an angry Leverkusen side could still run away with this. We are happy to take Union with the start.