Bayer Leverkusen will host Union Berlin at the BayArena on Saturday, April 12, 2025, for Matchday 29 of the Bundesliga. The defending champions are currently six points behind leaders Bayern Munich with just six matches left to play, making this a crucial fixture in their title defense.
Leverkusen is on a winning streak of three in the Bundesliga, recently securing a 1-0 victory over Heidenheim thanks to a dramatic 91st-minute goal from substitute Emi Buendía. Despite this positive momentum, they faced a setback in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, where they lost 2-1 to third-tier Arminia Bielefeld. With 62 points from 28 matches, Leverkusen has won 18, drawn eight, and lost two, but they know they must keep winning to stay in the title race.
As the match approaches, Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in his squad. "Flo is back fit, he is in the squad, he can play, also from the start and that's very good," Alonso said regarding the return of Florian Wirtz, who has been sidelined with an ankle ligament injury since early March. Wirtz has scored nine goals and provided ten assists in the Bundesliga this season, and his presence is expected to bolster Leverkusen's attacking options.
Leverkusen's recent form has been impressive, winning five of their last six Bundesliga matches, which is the best record since the start of matchday 23. The team has a strong historical record against Union Berlin, having lost just once in their last 11 meetings, with six wins and four draws. At home, Leverkusen is unbeaten against Union, winning three and drawing two while scoring 14 goals in those encounters.
However, they cannot afford to underestimate Union Berlin, who have found their form in recent weeks. After struggling in the bottom half of the table since late November, Union has turned their season around with three wins and a draw in their last four matches. Their resurgence began with a 2-1 victory on the road at Frankfurt, followed by a commendable 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich at home. They also secured a 2-1 win against Freiburg and a 1-0 victory over Wolfsburg in their most recent outing.
Union Berlin now sits 13th in the table with 33 points, having won nine, drawn six, and lost 13 matches. They are now 11 points clear of the relegation zone and looking safe for another season of top-flight football. "We are a better team with Florian. We have better connections between the lines. He is the player who makes the difference for us," Alonso added, highlighting the importance of Wirtz's return.
As the match unfolds, Leverkusen will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and maintain pressure on Bayern Munich, who are scheduled to face Borussia Dortmund later in the day in a crucial Der Klassiker. Bayern currently leads the Bundesliga with 68 points and has a busy schedule ahead, including a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Inter Milan, where they find themselves 2-1 down from the first leg.
Betting odds indicate that Leverkusen is favored to win, with bets on Leverkusen to win and both teams to score at 2/1 with Parimatch. Patrik Schick, who has been in fine form with 17 goals this season, is expected to play a pivotal role in the match. Schick is currently the club's top scorer and has been a crucial part of Leverkusen's attack, especially in recent games.
Union Berlin, while having a solid defense, has struggled to score consistently, averaging just one goal per game, ranking them 16th in the league. Their top scorer, Benedict Hollerbach, has only eight goals this season, which reflects the team's overall scoring challenges. However, they have shown resilience, scoring in their last four Bundesliga matches, indicating that they can pose a threat to Leverkusen's defense.
With both teams coming into the match with differing motivations—Leverkusen fighting to stay in the title race and Union looking to solidify their mid-table position—it promises to be an exciting encounter. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Leverkusen can close the gap on Bayern or if Union can continue their impressive resurgence.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff at 2:30 PM BST, the atmosphere at the BayArena is expected to be electric, with both teams keen to secure vital points in this critical stage of the season. The stakes are high, and every moment will count as Leverkusen battles to keep their title hopes alive against a Union Berlin side that has found its footing just in time.
