Bayer Leverkusen to continue assault on top four
Bayer Leverkusen travel to Koln on Sunday as the club go for their 13th win of the Bundesliga season. Bayer have lost just three times in their last nine fixtures. The team is currently fourth in the Bundesliga, and could move up to second place, if results go its way this weekend.
Bayer have been brilliant away from home this term. The team has recorded the third most points in the Bundesliga (22) on the road, while scoring 25 goals. Striker Kevin Volland has scored 10 goals this term to lead Bayer. Volland has recorded 21% of Bayer's scoring. The striker is experiencing a long dry spell, however. Volland hasn't scored a goal in Bayer's last nine matches in all competitions. He did record an assist in the team's win over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend – his second this year.
Bayer midfielder Leon Bailey has stepped up during Volland's recent poor scoring run. Bailey has scored nine goals and four of those have come in his last 10 matches in all competitions. Bailey has added five assists and his play has become vital to Bayer's recent performances. Bailey's favourite target when creating goals is Lucas Alario. The 20-year-old has picked out Alario twice this term in front of goal.
Simon Terodde is Bayer's most lethal scorer currently. Since returning to the club from Stuttgart in January, Terodde has score five times in nine appearances.
Koln are propping up the Bundesliga table and the Billy Goats will most likely be relegated at the end of this season. Koln have not left the 18th position in the Bundesliga table since week 2 and the team has tasted victory only four times. Koln are coming off of back-to-back losses to Stuttgart and Werder Bremen. Both fixtures were six-point matches against other relegation strugglers. Koln have not won in seven matches against the current Bundesliga top five this season. From a possible 21 points, Koln have collect just one, and that came against Schalke in early December.
Eight of Koln's 17 losses have come at home. The team has given up 24 goals at the RheinEnergie Stadion, while collecting a –10 in goal differential. The Billy Goats have won just once in their last six against Bayer.
The visitors have not lost in their last 10 road games, and Bayer will have plenty of confidence they can rise to second place in the Bundesliga table by the end of Sunday. Bayer won the reverse fixture, 2-1, in late October thanks to goals from Bailey and Sven Bender. Koln will be without defender Frederik Sorensen who will miss through injury.
Bayer should have little resistance in adding to Koln's misery. Bayer will win and strengthen their top four credentials.
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