Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund: Preview, Prediction, Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Match Preview

The Bundesliga serves up a blockbuster this weekend as Bayer Leverkusen host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena. This is a battle for Champions League supremacy, with just one point separating 3rd-placed Leverkusen and 4th-placed Dortmund.

Both sides enter this fixture on a high after statement wins in Europe. Leverkusen stunned Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad in midweek, while Dortmund thrashed Villarreal 4-0. With Kasper Hjulmand’s men flying and Niko Kovac’s Dortmund finding their scoring touch, this clash promises goals, intensity, and massive implications for the title race.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund
Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 12)
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen (Capacity: 30,210)
Date: Saturday, 29 November 2025
Kickoff Time: 18:30 CET / 17:30 GMT / 23:00 IST
Referee: Tobias Welz (Germany)
TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Football
TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV, JioTV
Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA), SonyLIV (India)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Bayer Leverkusen:

Position: 3rd in Bundesliga (23 Points).
Form: Red Hot. Since their loss to Bayern Munich, Leverkusen have won 4 straight games in all competitions, including a 6-0 mauling of Heidenheim and the historic 2-0 win over Man City.
Current Challenge: Managing fatigue after a high-intensity midweek game in England while maintaining their aggressive pressing style against a direct rival.

Borussia Dortmund:

Position: 4th in Bundesliga (22 Points).
Form: Unpredictable but Dangerous. A chaotic 3-3 draw vs Stuttgart showed their defensive flaws, but the 4-0 win vs Villarreal proved they can destroy teams when it clicks.
Current Challenge: Keeping the back door shut. Dortmund have conceded 6 goals in their last 3 league games, which is risky against Leverkusen’s attack.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — What’s at Stake

For Bayer Leverkusen:

Podium Cement: A win takes them to 26 points, potentially widening the gap to Dortmund to 4 points and keeping pressure on Bayern and Leipzig at the top.

For Borussia Dortmund:

Leapfrog Opportunity: A win would see Dortmund jump ahead of Leverkusen into 3rd place. It would also be a huge statement of intent under Niko Kovac.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Team Form

Bayer Leverkusen (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Manchester City (2-0 – CL)
W vs Wolfsburg (3-1)
W vs Heidenheim (6-0)
W vs Benfica (1-0 – CL)
L vs Bayern Munich (0-3)

Borussia Dortmund (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Villarreal (4-0 – CL)
D vs Stuttgart (3-3)
D vs Hamburger SV (1-1)
L vs Manchester City (1-4 – CL)
W vs Augsburg (1-0)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Team News

Bayer Leverkusen:

Exequiel Palacios: Out (Groin Injury – A big miss in midfield).
Lucas Vázquez: Out (Muscle Injury).
Equi Fernández: Out (Knee Injury).
Arthur: Questionable (Back Injury – If out, Frimpong or Tella must start at RWB).
Axel Tape: Questionable (Hamstring).
Florian Wirtz: Available. The playmaker is fit and expected to pull the strings.

Borussia Dortmund:

Niklas Süle: Out (Toe Injury – Defense is lighter without him).
Maximilian Beier: Questionable (Muscle Injury – Late fitness test).
Serhou Guirassy: Available. Scored against Villarreal and is the main goal threat.
Karim Adeyemi: In electric form, his pace will be vital on the counter.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Head to Head

11 May 2025: Leverkusen 2–4 Dortmund
11 Jan 2025: Dortmund 2–3 Leverkusen
21 Apr 2024: Dortmund 1–1 Leverkusen
03 Dec 2023: Leverkusen 1–1 Dortmund
29 Jan 2023: Leverkusen 0–2 Dortmund
Analysis: This fixture guarantees goals. The last 5 meetings have produced 17 goals (3.4 per game). Both teams love to attack each other.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Predicted Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1):

Hjulmand rotates slightly after the City win but keeps the core strong.

GK: Mark Flekken
CB: Edmond Tapsoba
CB: Loïc Badé
CB: Piero Hincapié
RWB: Nathan Tella (Assuming Arthur is unfit)
CM: Granit Xhaka (C)
CM: Aleix García
LWB: Álex Grimaldo
CAM: Florian Wirtz
CAM: Jonas Hofmann
ST: Victor Boniface (or Schick)

Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1):

Kovac matches Leverkusen’s system to nullify their width.

GK: Gregor Kobel
CB: Waldemar Anton
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck
CB: Aaron Anselmino
RWB: Julian Ryerson
CM: Marcel Sabitzer (C)
CM: Felix Nmecha
LWB: Daniel Svensson
CAM: Julian Brandt
CAM: Karim Adeyemi
ST: Serhou Guirassy

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Impact Bench Options

Bayer Leverkusen:

Patrik Schick: If Boniface starts, Schick is the ultimate luxury sub. He scores goals in bunches against tired defenses.
Amine Adli: Explosive pace to stretch Dortmund late in the game.

Borussia Dortmund:

Jamie Gittens: One of the best 1v1 dribblers in the league. If Dortmund need a spark, he is the man.
Giovanni Reyna: Offers creativity and ball retention if the game becomes too chaotic.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Tactical Outlook

Bayer Leverkusen:

Playing Style: Relentless Width. Hjulmand’s side attacks primarily through Grimaldo and the RWB (Tella/Arthur). They will look to overload the flanks and cut balls back for Wirtz arriving late in the box.
Strength: Momentum. Beating Man City away is a massive confidence booster. They will believe they can outscore anyone right now.

Borussia Dortmund:

Playing Style: Vertical Speed. Kovac will instruct his team to absorb Leverkusen’s pressure and release Adeyemi and Guirassy immediately. Dortmund’s transition game is lethal, as Villarreal found out.
Weakness: Defensive Discipline. Conceding 3 to Stuttgart suggests they struggle when teams run at them. Wirtz finding space between the lines is a major danger.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Álex Grimaldo vs. Julian Ryerson	Wing-Back War: Ryerson is a defensive specialist, but Grimaldo is an attacking monster. If Ryerson gets pinned back, Dortmund lose their outlet.	Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz vs. Felix Nmecha	The Space Invader: Wirtz will drift into the “hole.” Nmecha must be disciplined and track him, or Wirtz will tear Dortmund apart.	Leverkusen
Nico Schlotterbeck vs. Victor Boniface	Physical Duel: Boniface is strong and fast. Schlotterbeck loves a tackle. Expect fireworks in this 1v1 battle.	Tie

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Spotlight Players

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen):

The German wonderkid is the heartbeat of this team. With Palacios out, he has to take more responsibility in deeper areas to progress the ball. His vision will be key to unlocking a stubborn Dortmund block.

Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund):

Adeyemi is in the form of his life. His speed is terrifying for high lines, and Leverkusen play a very high line. If Dortmund can play the right pass, Adeyemi will have chances to score.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Fan Reactions

Leverkusen Fans:

“We just conquered Manchester, now let’s conquer Dortmund! The BayArena needs to be loud.”

“No Palacios is a worry, but Aleix Garcia has been fantastic stepping up.”

Dortmund Fans:

“4-0 vs Villarreal was the real BVB. Let’s not revert to the Stuttgart chaos.”

“Adeyemi vs Tapsoba is the matchup to watch. Karim will cook him with pace.”

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Match-Defining Factors

Fatigue: Both teams played high-intensity Champions League games in midweek. The team with the fresher legs in the last 20 minutes will likely win.
Goalkeeping: Kobel vs Flekken. Both are capable of world-class saves but also occasional errors. In a high-scoring game, one big save could be the difference.
Set Pieces: Grimaldo’s delivery vs Dortmund’s aerial threat (Schlotterbeck/Guirassy). Corners could decide this game.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Prediction

Score Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2–2 Borussia Dortmund

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Draw or Over 3.5 Goals.
Both Teams to Score: YES (A certainty given recent H2H and form).
Anytime Goalscorer: Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen) or Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund).

Analysis: Both teams are flying high in attack but have questions to answer defensively. Leverkusen’s home advantage is neutralized slightly by Dortmund’s counter-attacking threat. Expect a thrilling, end-to-end contest where neither side is able to fully kill the other off.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — Final Word

This is the game of the weekend in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen want to prove they are the true challengers to Bayern, while Borussia Dortmund want to show they belong in the elite conversation. With goals almost guaranteed, sit back and enjoy two of Germany’s most exciting teams going toe-to-toe.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund — FAQs

When is the Leverkusen vs Dortmund match?

The match kicks off on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at 18:30 CET (23:00 IST).

Is Exequiel Palacios playing?

No, Exequiel Palacios is out with a groin injury.

Who is the referee?

The match will be officiated by Tobias Welz.

Where can I watch the match in India?

You can watch live on Sony Sports Network and stream on SonyLIV.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

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