Bayer Leverkusen-Cologne is a match of the 31st day of Bundesliga and is played on Friday at 8:30 pm: TV, probable formations, predictions
Bayer Leverkusen woke up too late and in this season’s finale is forced to run on a fast track to secure a place in the upcoming European competitions.
Xabi Alonso’s team, Roma’s next opponent in the Europa League, remains in any case one of the fittest (and most consistent) in the Bundesliga, and the fact that it has not known defeat even since last February – nine useful results between cups and the league – confirms this. Fourth place, however, definitely receded over the last weekend, with the Aspirins not going beyond a draw (0-0) with Union Berlin, the tournament’s third force. The lack of success in the capital allowed the Capitols and Freiburg, who currently occupy third and fourth place respectively, to widen the gap to their pursuers. There are now eight points Leverkusen has to make up when there are only four days left until the end of the games. A half miracle will be needed to get back in the running for the Champions League, easier instead to consolidate sixth place while waiting to see how the continental adventure will end.
Xabi Alonso with Roma in his sights
The Champions League, in fact, could also be achieved through winning the Europa League, which is why Alonso ponders going all-in on the double challenge with the Giallorossi.
Baumgart
Being the only Bundesliga club still engaged in Europe, Werkself will take the field in one of the two early matches of the 31st day against Cologne.The match was originally supposed to be played on Sunday, and the shift, apparently advocated by German Interior Minister Reul (a well-known Leverkusen fan), has sent the managers of the host formation into a rage. The Steffen Baumgart-coached lineup has failed to replicate the excellent results of last season, when it finished in the top seven and qualified for the Conference League. For the Billy Goats, it is a year without any major jumps and with a salvation still to be sealed. Cologne’s points are 35, seven more than the third-last: a few are missing for the certainty of playing in the Bundesliga again next year.
The prediction
Bayer Leverkusen is healthy and at home has won 26 points in fifteen matches. The record is also favorable with Cologne, which has lost four out of six times in recent confrontations. A victory for Xabi Alonso’s men, still in the running for Europe, is highly likely against an opponent that has won on only three occasions away and may have less motivation. The total goals will most likely be at least two.
Bayer Leverkusen-Cologne likely lineups
- BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-1-3-2): Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Andrich; Frimpong, Wirtz, Bakker; Diaby, Hlozek.
- COLONIA (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe; Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector; Skhiri, Huseinbasic; Maina, Kainz, Ljubicic; Tigges.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
