Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the DFB-Pokal match.
At the end of September, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen contested a match in the league that was low on chances (1:1). It is likely that without Harry Kane in the lineup, the team from Munich will refrain from taking risks in the attacking third. Advancing past Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16 is crucial for the hosts, so they may allow the visitors to take the initiative.
Bayern Munich
Since the start of November, Bayern have not seen a total over 3.5 in any of their six matches across all competitions. Even with Harry Kane in the line-up last week, they struggled to create chances against Paris Saint-Germain (1:0) and Borussia Dortmund (1:1). In Dortmund, a late goal from Jamal Musiala rescued them, and from 1.46 xG and five shots on target, the team managed to produce very few dangerous moments.
Bayer Leverkusen
In the previous round of the DFB-Pokal, Bayer Leverkusen managed three goals against Elversberg (3:0) by the 36th minute before efficiently closing out the match. This season, they have not been known for an explosive attack, preferring to maintain their lead; for instance, in Berlin against Union (2:1), they created only 0.94 xG. Amine Adli, Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, and Martin Terrier are sidelined with injuries, which is concerning given Leverkusen's limited attacking options on the bench.
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
In the fifth round of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen combined for 1.30 xG with a total of six shots on target between them. In the DFB-Pokal, these two giants are unlikely to take risks either, which could see the match extending into extra time.
