Bayer Leverkusen-Hoffenheim is a match valid for the 27th day of Bundesliga and is played on Saturday at 3:30pm: live TV, likely lineups, predictions.
First in the standings at +10 over defending champions Bayern Munich, still unbeaten in every competition, in the quarterfinals of the Europa League and in the semifinals of the German Cup. So far, it is already a banner season for a Bayer Leverkusen side that shows no signs of slowing down. The Aspirins could even lift as many as three trophies at the end of the season-something that has obviously never happened in the past-breaking that taboo of a beautiful but losing team that has been carried around for many, too many years.
While Xabi Alonso, the main architect of this extraordinary ride, is being courted by major clubs on the continent (Liverpool above all), Leverkusen must, however, keep the bar straight and avoid slumps: there are still two months to go until the end of the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich, though far away, does not seem to have any intention of letting go. In the meantime, on this post-season day, Werkself has a chance to move even closer to +13 from the Bavarians, who are engaged a few hours later in the Klassiker with Borussia Dormtund, always a very complicated match for Neuer and his teammates. Alonso and his men, on the other hand, will have to deal with Hoffenheim: in their sights is an eighth consecutive league victory.
Hoffenheim not very consistent
The Sinsheim club, on the other hand, will try to avoid what would be the fourth defeat in a row after those with Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart (3-1 and 0-3).
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team fails to be continuous and at this rate it will hardly be able to hook the Europe zone, not even that far away. Captain Kramaric is not at his best and could start again from the bench, on the other hand, however, Matarazzo will be able to count on a “regenerated” Weghorst from the Dutch national team – he scored in the friendly with Scotland – and on the returning Kabak, who is back available after his disqualification. In Leverkusen there is Schick but there is a pawing at Nigerian striker Boniface, now recovered.
The Prediction
Hard to go against a Bayer Leverkusen side that, especially in the league, does not give an inch. As in the first leg – it ended 2-3 – we expect in any case an eventful match, with at least three goals in total and both teams scoring.
Bayer Leverkusen-Hoffenheim
likely lineups.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3-4-2-1): Hrádecký; Stanišić, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Schick.
HOFFENHEIM (3-4-3): Baumann; Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki; Kadeřábek, Stach, Tohumcu, Jurásek; Bebou, Weghorst, Beier.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
