Bayer
Rot-Weiss EssenBy Kelechi Balogun — Football expert specializing in European and American leagues
Bayer Leverkusen and Rot-Weiss Essen meet in a pre-season friendly that pits a Bundesliga powerhouse against a Third Division side. The gap in class is considerable, and the visitors’ recent defensive collapses suggest they will struggle to cope with Leverkusen’s firepower. For Xabi Alonso’s men, this match is an ideal opportunity to experiment with new tactical patterns and rotate the squad heavily, as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Leverkusen ended last Bundesliga season in sixth place, amassing 59 points from 34 matches (17 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses, goal difference 68:47). Their pre-season form has been impressive, with the team playing from a position of strength in every friendly. The most notable result was a crushing 4-0 victory over Belgian side Genk, where the Germans’ attacking power left the opposition utterly helpless while simultaneously exposing Genk’s defensive frailty in a predictable manner.
The club suffered significant defensive losses during the transfer window, selling two key defenders: Piero Hincapié moved to Arsenal for €40 million, and Alejandro Grimaldo joined Atlético Madrid for €22 million. As yet, Leverkusen have not found direct replacements, so the back line looks notably weakened. Interestingly, the club has focused its recruitment on the attack, adding wingers Afonso Moreira and Kerim Alajbegovic. The latter is a highly promising 18-year-old, for whom Leverkusen paid €8 million, underlining their long-term ambitions.
The visitors enjoyed a strong season in the 3. Liga, finishing third with 70 points (20 wins, 10 draws, 8 losses, goal difference 78:66). That achievement was marred, however, by their failure to earn promotion via the playoffs, losing 2-0 on aggregate in the second leg against Greuther Fürth after a 1-0 first-leg win (final aggregate: 1-2). In pre-season friendlies, Rot-Weiss Essen predictably crushed weaker local opposition, beating Essen 5-1 and Bottrop 11-0, but their defensive frailties were brutally exposed against stronger sides: a 2-1 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach and a 3-0 defeat to Austrian side Ried. In those matches against higher-caliber opponents, the team demonstrated an alarming tendency to commit multiple errors at the back. To strengthen the midfield, the club has brought in Toni Menzel on loan from Dynamo Dresden and Max Geschwill from Holstein Kiel.
Main Pick: Bayer Leverkusen to win with a -2 handicap at odds of 1.87 Leverkusen hold a clear advantage in class, squad depth, and individual quality. They have built excellent momentum in pre-season, winning three consecutive friendlies by large margins. Rot-Weiss Essen, playing in the third tier, will find it extremely difficult to avoid serious defensive mistakes against such a fast and powerful attack. The guests have lost their last two matches, including a 3-0 drubbing by Ried. We do not expect them to offer serious resistance here. The probability of Leverkusen covering the -2 handicap is estimated at 62% – a threshold that makes the bet appealing (anything above 1.61 is playable).
Total Goals Pick: Over 3.5 goals at odds of 1.80 Both teams embrace an exclusively attacking style of football. Leverkusen are scoring freely in pre-season, while Rot-Weiss Essen’s matches are traditionally high-scoring: last season in the 3. Liga, the average total goals in their games exceeded 3.7, and this summer they have already produced scorelines of 11-0 and 5-1. In a friendly with no pressure on the result, the two sides will likely serve up open, goal-rich football. The probability of over 3.5 goals landing is assessed at 58% – again, a figure above the recommended threshold of 1.70.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
I predict Bayer will score fewer goals in their next match. My reasoning is straightforward: after a big win, teams often experience a natural dip in performance or intensity, whether due to complacency, fatigue, or tactical adjustments from opponents. The data supports this pattern—high-scoring victories are rarely followed by identical outputs. I’m confident this trend holds here.
I’m predicting Bayer Leverkusen to win big. Their attacking form is relentless, and the opponent’s defense has been shaky in recent matches. Expect a dominant performance with multiple goals.
I’m betting on Bayer Leverkusen to win today. They’re in excellent form right now, and that momentum will make the difference in this match.
I predict that Bayer will win this match. Their current form and attacking strength are too much for the opponent to handle, especially in a high-stakes game where they consistently perform under pressure. I'm confident in this outcome.
I'm confident Bayer will score a couple of goals in the first half and play with high intensity.
I'm backing Bayer to win by a solid margin. Their form and attacking strength point to a comfortable victory, and I expect them to cover the spread convincingly.
In friendlies, even underdogs tend to find the net against top sides. I'm backing goals here—expect both teams to get on the scoresheet. The defensive intensity simply isn't there in these matches, and the gap in quality rarely stops the weaker side from grabbing at least one. Betting on both teams to score is the smart play.
I'm betting on the handicap. The line is too generous given recent form, and I'm confident this pick will cash.
I'm confident these teams will score more than two goals in the first half. Their attacking play and defensive vulnerabilities make that outcome highly likely.
I’m betting that the second half will see at least one goal. The attacking patterns and defensive gaps from the first half make a score in the second period highly likely. History and momentum are on my side here.
Germany will put their full attacking strength on display in this match. They have the quality and motivation to dominate from the start, so I'm confidently predicting a high-scoring performance.
I predict that Bayer will concede at least one goal in their upcoming match. My reasoning is based on their recent defensive vulnerabilities and the attacking strength of their opponents, which suggests a high likelihood of them failing to keep a clean sheet.
I'm betting against the high-scoring narrative for this German Bundesliga match. Contrary to expectations, I see both teams prioritizing defensive solidity, leading to a low-scoring affair.
I confidently predict the home team will dominate as clear favorites. They will aggressively convert their scoring opportunities into goals.
I'm backing Bayer Leverkusen to win with a handicap against Rot-Weiss Essen. The gap in quality is massive—Leverkusen's depth and firepower will overwhelm a side from the lower divisions. Expect a comfortable, multi-goal victory.
I'm confidently predicting a crushing victory for Leverkusen in this match. The team's form and tactical edge are simply too much for their opponent to handle, and I expect them to dominate from start to finish.
I believe the home team has a strong edge in this show match, making both a win and a dominant performance more likely. The combination of familiar surroundings, crowd support, and a likely mismatch in motivation or preparation points to a clear advantage for the hosts. I'm confident they'll not only secure the victory but also run up the score, turning this into a lopsided affair.
I expect a low-scoring game. Both teams have strong defenses and have been struggling to find the net recently, so goals will be at a premium.
I'm going with the low-scoring option here. The favorite is obvious, and I'm confident this bet will pay off.
I am confident that Bayer's attack will easily break through the weak defense of the visitors. That's why I'm betting on over the total goals.
I'm backing Bayer Leverkusen to win with a handicap against Rot-Weiss Essen. The gap in quality is massive—Leverkusen's depth and firepower will overwhelm a side from the lower divisions. Expect a comfortable, multi-goal victory.
I predict that Bayer will win this match. Their current form and attacking strength are too much for the opponent to handle, especially in a high-stakes game where they consistently perform under pressure. I'm confident in this outcome.
I'm confident Bayer will score a couple of goals in the first half and play with high intensity.
I'm confident these teams will score more than two goals in the first half. Their attacking play and defensive vulnerabilities make that outcome highly likely.
I’m betting that the second half will see at least one goal. The attacking patterns and defensive gaps from the first half make a score in the second period highly likely. History and momentum are on my side here.
Germany will put their full attacking strength on display in this match. They have the quality and motivation to dominate from the start, so I'm confidently predicting a high-scoring performance.
I predict that Bayer will concede at least one goal in their upcoming match. My reasoning is based on their recent defensive vulnerabilities and the attacking strength of their opponents, which suggests a high likelihood of them failing to keep a clean sheet.
I confidently predict the home team will dominate as clear favorites. They will aggressively convert their scoring opportunities into goals.
I am confident that Bayer's attack will easily break through the weak defense of the visitors. That's why I'm betting on over the total goals.
I predict Bayer will score fewer goals in their next match. My reasoning is straightforward: after a big win, teams often experience a natural dip in performance or intensity, whether due to complacency, fatigue, or tactical adjustments from opponents. The data supports this pattern—high-scoring victories are rarely followed by identical outputs. I’m confident this trend holds here.
I'm betting against the high-scoring narrative for this German Bundesliga match. Contrary to expectations, I see both teams prioritizing defensive solidity, leading to a low-scoring affair.
I expect a low-scoring game. Both teams have strong defenses and have been struggling to find the net recently, so goals will be at a premium.
I'm going with the low-scoring option here. The favorite is obvious, and I'm confident this bet will pay off.
I’m predicting Bayer Leverkusen to win big. Their attacking form is relentless, and the opponent’s defense has been shaky in recent matches. Expect a dominant performance with multiple goals.
I’m betting on Bayer Leverkusen to win today. They’re in excellent form right now, and that momentum will make the difference in this match.
I'm backing Bayer to win by a solid margin. Their form and attacking strength point to a comfortable victory, and I expect them to cover the spread convincingly.
I'm betting on the handicap. The line is too generous given recent form, and I'm confident this pick will cash.
I'm confidently predicting a crushing victory for Leverkusen in this match. The team's form and tactical edge are simply too much for their opponent to handle, and I expect them to dominate from start to finish.
I believe the home team has a strong edge in this show match, making both a win and a dominant performance more likely. The combination of familiar surroundings, crowd support, and a likely mismatch in motivation or preparation points to a clear advantage for the hosts. I'm confident they'll not only secure the victory but also run up the score, turning this into a lopsided affair.
In friendlies, even underdogs tend to find the net against top sides. I'm backing goals here—expect both teams to get on the scoresheet. The defensive intensity simply isn't there in these matches, and the gap in quality rarely stops the weaker side from grabbing at least one. Betting on both teams to score is the smart play.
The match is a Club Friendly scheduled for 1 August 2026 at 10:00.
The main pick is Bayer Leverkusen to win with a -2 handicap at odds of 1.87. Also, over 3.5 total goals at 1.80 is recommended.
Bayer Leverkusen is the clear favorite, as they are a Bundesliga side facing a third-division team.
Leverkusen have won three consecutive friendlies by large margins, including 4-0 vs Genk. Rot-Weiss Essen lost their last two friendlies, including 3-0 to Ried, but beat weaker local sides.
Leverkusen sold defenders Hincapié and Grimaldo and added wingers Moreira and Alajbegovic. Rot-Weiss Essen added midfielders Menzel and Geschwill on loan.