Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the DFB-Pokal match.
Bayer Leverkusen's recent points dropped suggest that it may be a challenging task for the reigning Bundesliga champions to defend their title. Leverkusen, who are also the holders of the DFB-Pokal, continue their journey in the tournament against Elversberg, where they are the unequivocal favourites, according to bookmakers.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
On Saturday against Werder Bremen (2:2), Bayer Leverkusen squandered a victory in the final minutes, having created a sufficient number of chances to win (1.20 xG and six shots on target). This draw marked Bayer's fourth in their last six matches across all competitions, yet their unbeaten run persists, with nine matches without a loss. At the end of August, they overcame Carl Zeiss Jena (1:0) in the DFB-Pokal Round of 64, playing with a reserve squad—now Bayer Leverkusen are in optimal form and ready to perform at their best with any lineup.
Elversberg
Over the weekend, Elversberg defeated one of the favourites in the 2. Bundesliga, Hamburger (4:2), although the gap in chances wasn't particularly wide (2.47 vs 1.76 xG). Due to injuries, they have seen four players sidelined, and the core squad may struggle to recover mentally in time for the trip to Leverkusen. In five away matches in the league, Elversberg managed to score only seven goals, noted as the worst among clubs that have secured six or more points.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Elversberg Prediction
In the summer before last, Elversberg managed to defeat Bayer Leverkusen (4:3) in a DFB-Pokal encounter. Leverkusen are keen on taking revenge for that slip-up against the underdog—they are motivated and capable of quickly gaining the lead.
