The central match of the Round of 16 of the German Cup will feature Borussia Dortmund and Bayer facing each other. This meeting will be their second in just a few days. On Saturday, the rivals met in Leverkusen. Both teams entered the match in high spirits. The 'pharmaceuticals' managed to beat Manchester City in an away Champions League match, while the 'hornets' easily handled Villarreal in the same tournament. Bayer was considered the favorite for the match, despite statistics favoring their opponent. However, the 'numbers' won that match. Not only did Borussia not lose in Leverkusen for the first time since 2021, but they also took away three points. In the first half, Anselmin opened the scoring, and in the second, Adeyemi doubled the lead. Bayer only managed a consolation goal, scored by Kofane in the 83rd minute. This result highlighted the fact that the team in Leverkusen is still 'raw' when it comes to competing for serious achievements. Bayer can win one, two, or three matches in this part of the season, but it will not be able to compete for the championship title in Germany or for spots in the later stages of the Champions League playoffs. Bookmakers have designated the home team as the favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.83 for their victory.

Due to the described defeat in the championship, it is too early for Bayer's players to throw ashes on their heads. On the contrary, the fans of the 'pharmaceuticals' should perceive the last part of the season with cautious optimism. Before the setback against the 'hornets,' Bayer had won four times in a row. Moreover, the opponents ranged from weak to very strong. The other matter is that Borussia currently has a more robust squad. The rivals will definitely have to rotate their lineups, as cup matches will be followed by league matches, and right after them, the next round of the Champions League. In this regard, it is worth assuming that Bayer can currently compete with strong opponents only with the lineup that achieved victory in Manchester. For Borussia, the situation is also eased by the fact that their next two matches will be at home, while Bayer will play away. Let's bet that the hosts will win in regular time.