2012-2013 Bundesliga Match Day 20: Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund [R]

If you knew what I'm about to say, I don't know that you'd consider Leverkusen "a tougher test."

Believe it or not, we've shut out Leverkusen in four of our last six matches against them, including the last three meetings.......

Wow, I didn't check the most recent match results against them. Very interesting. That's why I read these boards though. Always learn something new.

But this time's different. They're in 2nd and would like to remain in 2nd now. With Carvajal freeing up Castro and two very solid forwards in Kießling and Schürrle, they're certainly no pushovers.

Thats what interests me. Can we shut them down. I want the good run of performances to continue. We seem to be getting a little momentum going.

And we want second for ourselves. Does this not matter?

Are you next going to tell me Leverkusen only had something to play for once against us since our second meeting of the 2007-2008 season?

Because they've only beaten us once since then.......

We've shut them down every other time. I don't see how playing for second makes this any different.

Hell, if anything, for me, it puts this match in our favor. Leverkusen is well known for shitting their shorts when there's something on the line.......

If there is anything which will motivate them more, I think it will be wanting to beat us at their place for the first time since 2007.

They have also strengthened their squad since BVB's last four meetings with Leverkusen. I'm not saying that, just stating context for no apparent reason. Plus history means nothing when they go on that pitch, maybe psychologically. Were they to score a goal, does BVB's history of beating Leverkusen count for anything? No. They are tough opponents, else they wouldn't be in 2nd over BVB in the first place, would they?

We`re back in form. Leverkusen stand no chance. They can't stop us. They've improved a lot defensively compared to last season but I dont think they are that good in attack. We are great both in attack and defense. We win this.

You talk about "were they to score a goal." So what? You think we aren't mentally tough enough to recover from a one-goal deficit?? We did it at Munich against Bayern, we can't do it against Leverkusen?

I didn't say Leverkusen isn't tough. However, this isn't fantasy I'm talking. These are FACTS. No matter how "tough" they've been since 2007, and they've had teams better than this one, they have only managed to beat us one time in the past eleven meetings. You think this Leverkusen team is drastically better than those others??

You think just because they're trying to hold on to second place, this renders history null and void??

BTW, the last time we played Bayer when they were trying to stay ahead of us in the standings, we beat them 3-0. They were eight points ahead of us and we beat them 3-0.

So I guess I can say the fact that they're ahead of us by one point means nothing too.

I have not said Leverkusen cannot win this match. They can. I'm not stupid or blind. They are undefeated at home. However, with the way we've been playing recently, they don't scare me. I'm betting we probably scare them a bit. Especially since we beat them 3-0 in this season's first matchup.

I'm expecting a good match. But I will also say if we play like we have played the last few weeks, Leverkusen won't beat us.

Carvajal doesn't scare me. Neither does Kiessling or Schurrle. Kiessling and Schurrle have been beaten by us enough for us not to be afraid of them. Hell, the Leverkusen player who most concerns me after Lars Bender is probably going to be coming off the bench. Sidney Sam.

For some reason, we simply seem to have Leverkusen's number. I know that will change sometime. Whether it changes on Sunday or not, I don't know.

But again, if we play like we have played the last few weeks, Leverkusen won't beat us.

2012-2013 Bundesliga Match Day 20







Bayer 04 Leverkusen




versus







Borussia Dortmund







Sunday, February 3, 2013, BayArena, Leverkusen – Kickoff: 5:30 PM (CET)




Sunday’s match is a battle for second place in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen comes into this match undefeated at home (seven victories and two draws to date) and clinging to a one-point lead over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga standings. Last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen only managed a goalless draw at SC Freiburg, while BVB defeated 1. FC Nürnberg 3-0 at Dortmund.


Bayer Leverkusen comes into this match with a record of eleven victories, four draws and four defeats. Borussia Dortmund comes into the match with a record of ten victories, six draws and three defeats. Despite trailing Bayer Leverkusen by one point in the standings Borussia Dortmund holds a nice goal-difference advantage over Bayer Leverkusen. BVB is +10 over Leverkusen with seven more goals scored and three fewer conceded. These three fewer goals conceded can be traced back to the first meeting between the clubs in the current season. BVB took a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund back on September 15, 2012.

As stated previously in this thread, Bayer Leverkusen has only beaten BVB once in the last eleven meetings between the two clubs. Bayer Leverkusen took a 2-0 decision in Dortmund on the opening day of the 2010-2011 season (August 22, 2010). Of course, BVB went on to win the Bundesliga title. Bayer Leverkusen last took a home decision over Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the 2006-2007 season. Bayer Leverkusen took a 2-1 decision back on May 19, 2007. In five matches between the two clubs at the BayArena (which has one of the weirdest facades of any stadium you’ll ever see - Yes, I know it is a hotel, I've stayed there before.) since May 19, 2007, Borussia Dortmund has won twice and there have been three draws. The last meeting between the two clubs in Leverkusen was a goalless draw back on August 27, 2011.

For me, BVB’s current mastery of Bayer Leverkusen is reminiscent of the mastery Bayer Leverkusen held over BVB from October 14, 1997 through April 4, 2004. During this period, in fourteen matches between the two clubs, BVB managed to win a grand total of TWO. Both victories were at home in 1999 and 2003. During this period BVB won those two matches, drew five and Leverkusen won seven times.

Anyhow, if asked, I couldn’t pick a winner between these two. But I will repeat something I’ve said at this thread twice already. If we play the way we’ve played since just before the winter break and since the Bundesliga re-start, Leverkusen will not beat us.

Match Data from the BVB website follows.

This information is NOT OFFICIAL!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Projected Bayer Leverkusen Starting Lineup: Leno - Carvajal, Wollscheid, Toprak, Boenisch - L. Bender, Reinartz, Rolfes - Castro, Kiessling, Schürrle

Projected Bayer Leverkusen Substitutes: Rensing - Friedrich, Kadlec, Schwaab, Hegeler, Hosogai, Sam, Fernandes, Milik

Questionable For Bayer Leverkusen: No One

Out For Bayer Leverkusen: Bellarabi (not match fit)

Projected Borussia Dortmund Starting Lineup: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer – S. Bender (Kehl), Gündogan - Blaszczykowski, Götze, Grosskreutz – Lewandowski


Projected Borussia Dortmund Substitutes Bench: Langerak - Kirch, Halstenberg, Kehl, Leitner, Reus, Sahin, Schieber


Questionable For Borussia Dortmund:Piszczek (muscle issues), Schmelzer (back issues)



Out For Borussia Dortmund: Owomoyela (ankle injury), Bittencourt (red card suspension), Subotic (not match fit)






Referee: Deniz Aytekin – Thirty-four year old Deniz Aytekin is viewed by many as one of the Bundesliga’s up and coming referees even though he garnered some notoriety this season for giving Hannover’s Szabolcs Huszti two yellow cards for excessive goal celebration. Anyhow, this Sunday’s match will be the 65th time Aytekin has supervised a Bundesliga match since becoming a Bundesliga referee in September 2008. Sunday’s match will be the ninth time Aytekin has supervised a Bundesliga match involving Borussia Dortmund. BVB’s record under Aytekin’s supervision is even with three victories, two draws and three defeats. Mr. Aytekin is also a FIFA referee.


Sideline Assistants: Christian Dietz, Benjamin Brand
Fourth Official: Thorsten Schiffner



Nearing Yellow Card Suspension:
Toprak, Wollscheid (Leverkusen – Both Have Four Yellow Cards)


Projected Attendance: The BayArena will be sold out. (30,210)

Good preview.

I see Reus not projected to start. Is that for tactical, rotation or injury (hope not)?

I think they're guessing Klopp will want to go a bit more defensive in this match. They could also be guessing he's got one eye on the CL.

I'm betting Reus starts........

Thanks

Reus must be from begin if they want to pass Bayer and try shorten diffrent of points to Bayern

Really Professor Football??

We beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 without Reus in the starting lineup in the first meeting this season.

How do you explain this?


"Berchtesgaden", this is probably why the BVB official website omitted Reus from their projected lineup.

That's probably it. Good info.

2-1 to the good...
Bayer with a late goal.

We were at home.

Langerak instead of Weidenfeller, who is said to be injured. Not good news but we should be fine.

Reus 3rd minute 1-0. Great start guys

PK, + yellow for Leno

Kuba converts

Outstanding start. We are rolling

Leverkusen are absolutely clueless. How are they 2nd in the league ?

We are playing very very well.

Hummels wearing captain's band.