Bayer Leverkusen to take step closer to Champions League qualification
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Bayer Leverkusen go into Saturday’s game against Schalke on the cusps of Champions League qualification.
Peter Bosz’s team is level on points with fourth-place Eintracht Frankfurt but sit one place lower due to goal difference. Bayer Leverkusen are in great form and defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 last weekend. A positive result will take them into fourth.
Schalke are undefeated in their last two league matches which includes a 4-2 win over derby rivals Borussia Dortmund. Schalke are now safe from relegation after suffering a scare for much of the season.
The Bay Arena has witnessed back to back Bayer Leverkusen wins. Bosz’s team has defeated Nurnburg and the previously mentioned Eintracht Frankfurt by a combined 8-1 scoreline.
Former Borussia Dortmund manager Bosz took charge of Bayer Leverkusen on January 4th. Since his arrival, Bayer Leverkusen have obtained 30 of 45 points possible. It is a turnaround that has seen the club go from midtable obscurity to potentially finishing in the top four.
Bayer Leverkusen may have a star in the making in Kai Havertz. The 19-year-old has scored 15 of Bayer Leverkusen’s 63 goals. He is the first teen to score 15 goals in the Bundesliga since 1968.
Despite Schalke’s issues this season, they are undefeated in their last two road games. The Royal Blues will feel confident they can take a point at the very least and damage Bayer Leverkusen’s top four aspirations.
Caretaker manager Huub Stevens has not tasted defeat on the road since returning to Schalke. He will hope the team can do better than in their last game against Bayer Leverkusen. Their previous meeting this term finished in a 2-1 win for Bayer Leverkusen.
Schalke have won on their last two visits to the Bay Arena. The Royal Blues defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 last term, but that was a much different team under former manager Domenico Tedesco.
The former manager led Schalke to a second-place finish last season. However, competing in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League took its toll on the thin squad. Since being replaced by Stevens, Schalke are unbeaten in seven league games.
Bayer Leverkusen will be without midfielder Leon Bailey. The star man has a thigh injury. Karim Bellarabi will also mix the fixture with a thigh injury.
Schalke winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is injured while Nabil Bentaleb will not be considered for the starting XI after being banished from the first team by Stevens. Bentaleb has been punished for unacceptable behaviour at the club.
Bayer Leverkusen have everything to play for while Schalke can’t wait for the offseason. Bosz’s side will keep their momentum going with a win at home. Five of the last six games between Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke have featured over 2.5 goals scored.
Saturday’s game at the Bay Arena will once again see the clubs find the back of the net as over 2.5 goals fly into the old onion bag.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
De1
532523
1
3 - 2
3.48
13°
1.36
1.36
5.60
8.00
1
-1
1
1 - 1(1 - 0)
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