Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Fourth hosts third on Sunday afternoon as Bayer Leverkusen face a Freiburg side who will go top of the Bundesliga with a win following Saturday’s results.

Kick-off date/time: 18 October 2026 at 2:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Amazon Prime Video / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime Video / USA – ESPN+

Bayer Leverkusen preview: Shooting boots on

Bayer Leverkusen have not looked back since their shocking defeat at the hands of newly promoted Elversberg on the opening weekend. They’ve racked up ten points from a possible 12 following that defeat and have netted at least two goals in each of their last four, accumulating 12 goals in total across that period.

Such offensive potency makes Carlos Martinez’s side stiff competition for any club, especially at the BayArea where they boast a 100% record following wins over both Union Berlin and RB Leipzig in front of the Leverkusen fans.

Freiburg preview: Dream start continues

Freiburg clearly made good use of the long international break, coming back and doing what needed to be done against Schalke 04. Whilst the 2. Bundesliga champions gave Julian Schuster’s men a serious run for their money, Freiburg found a way to win late on, despite them being reduced to ten men.

That 2-1 triumph makes it 13 points from 15 in what has been an unbeaten start to the season for Freiburg. The only match that they didn’t win came away at Eintracht Frankfurt prior to the break, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Bayer Leverkusen team news: Several missing players

Bayer Leverkusen are nursing a significant injury list, which includes Ben Seghir, Doue, Kofane and Terrier. Illness also rules out Eichhorn, whilst Culbreath is doubtful.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Flekken: Quansah, Tapsoba, Medina, Gutierrez: Garcia, Fernandez: Diaby, Maza, Moreira: Schick

Unavailable: Ben Seghir (Injured), Doue (Injured), Eichhorn (Illness), Kofane (Injured), Terrier (Injured)

Questionable: Culbreath (Injured)

Freiburg team news: Suzuki banned

After being sent off last week against Schalke 04, Yuito Suzuki will miss this game through suspension, joining the injured Florent Muslija on the sidelines.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Backhaus: Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo: Eggestein, Engelhardt: Beste, Holer, Scherhant: Matanovic

Unavailable Muslija (Injured), Suzuki (Suspended)

Questionable:

Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg prediction

The stakes are high for both Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg ahead of this game. Each of them are in good form and the ramifications of this result are big. Freiburg want that top spot, whilst Leverkusen want to get right back in the title race. With the latter being at home, expect them to make most of the early running and look to catch Julian Schuster’s men cold.

However, this Freiburg have answered pretty every question thrown at them so far this campaign. Whilst defensively, it’s hard to see them shutting out Leverkusen at the BayArena, you would certainly expect the visitors to find the net at least once themselves, as they have done in every league game this season. Therefore, backing both teams to score has to be favoured.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg tip: Both teams to score