Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Celje Predictions, Picks & Odds – 16/09/2026

Europa League · 1

16 Sep 2026 BayArena Louis Hecq

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Celje – Best bets of the match

Bookmaker	1	X	2	Bonus info
Betfred	1.17	8.00	13.00	View odds
Ladbrokes	1.44	3.60	7.50	View Odds
Coral	1.44	3.60	7.50	View Odds
BoyleSports	1.14	7.50	12.00	View odds
William Hill	1.17	7.50	13.00	View Odds

Our prediction

1: Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win

1.17 on Betfred

· Confidence High

Odds recorded on 15 Sep 2026 at 03:18 · Odds are subject to change

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Celje Preview

Bayer Leverkusen open their Europa League campaign at the BayArena in mixed domestic form, having alternated between wins and defeats across their last five outings. Sitting seventh in the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso's side will look to channel the energy of a home European night. The squad is stretched, though, with Eichhorn, Ben Seghir, Tella, Doué, and Terrier all sidelined through injury, while Hofmann and Boniface are ineligible for this competition.

Celje arrive in Leverkusen as considerable underdogs, languishing in 31st place and carrying unconvincing recent form that includes two defeats and two draws from their last five matches. The Slovenian side have managed just one victory in that run, hardly the kind of momentum required for a trip to one of Germany's most formidable venues. On the positive side, they report a fully fit squad, which at least gives their coaching staff selection flexibility for this daunting fixture.

Recommended Bets

	Betfred	Ladbrokes	Coral
Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win	1.17	1.44	1.44
Under 2.5	·	3.60	3.60
BTTS Yes	1.73	1.80	1.80

Odds recorded on 15 Sep 2026 at 03:18 · Odds are subject to change

Leverkusen's home win at 1.17 reflects their status as heavy favourites, and the underlying models support that assessment. Despite an inconsistent run of alternating results domestically, Xabi Alonso's side possess far superior quality. Celje, sitting 31st in the standings, have managed just one victory in five, making an upset highly unlikely.

The hosts' lengthy injury list, missing six first-team players plus Hofmann and Boniface through ineligibility, does temper expectations slightly. Still, Leverkusen's squad depth remains considerable, and Celje's clean bill of health hardly levels the playing field given the gulf in class between these two sides.

Over 2.5 goals at 1.25 looks a strong supplementary pick. Leverkusen's attacking firepower should be enough to clear that threshold alone, particularly against a Celje defence that has looked porous in European qualifying. Both teams to score at 1.73 carries more risk given the visitors' limited creative output, so the goals line offers better value alongside the home win.