Schalke 04-Bayer Leverkusen is a match in the 26th day of the Bundesliga and is played on Saturday at 15:30: TV, line-ups, predictions.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen had a hand in the ‘earthquake’ that shook Bayern Munich during the national team break. The reigning German champions’ 2-1 defeat at the BayArena a fortnight ago convinced the Bavarian management to relieve Julian Nagelsmann and hand the team over to Thomas Tuchel.
Another credit note for the Basque-born coach, who also proved indigestible to his old club, who were overturned thanks to a brace – both goals scored on penalties – by Argentine striker Palacios. For Bayer Leverkusen it was the fifth consecutive victory between Bundesliga and Europa League. It was a run of good results that allowed the Aspirins to reach the top eight of the Europa League and, above all, to move to within three points of sixth place in the Bundesliga, a goal that seemed like science fiction when Alonso took over the bench from Gerardo Seoane last October. After a complicated start, the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder has found a way to turn around a team that has plenty of talent and quality, especially from the midfield upwards. And which can still take some satisfaction despite a disastrous start to the season, to say the least.
Two teams reborn with new coaches
Leverkusen have won 12 of their last 17 games and have improved significantly in possession: the number of times they have scored less than two goals can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Bulter
Still forced to do without their starting striker Patrik Schick, the Rossoneri head to Gelsenkirchen against Schalke 04 with the aim of extending their five-match unbeaten run. Thomas Reis’ men, although fighting for different goals than Bayer, have also had a similar path: until two months ago they seemed doomed, condemned to the second relegation in the Zweite Liga in the last three years, but since February the trend has changed. It is thanks to the former Bochum coach, who has improved the defensive phase and made Schalke’s rearguard much more difficult to pierce: the result is that the white-blue haven’t lost in eight rounds, totalling mostly draws, with the exception of the victories in the direct clashes with Stuttgart and Bochum. Schalke are still in the red zone, but compared to last autumn they are more alive than ever: direct salvation is only one point away.
The prediction
Schalke 04, on the strength of a long unbeaten run, should be able to give Bayer Leverkusen a tough time, but they will avoid defeat at the Veltins Arena and return home with another positive result. Both are likely to score at least one goal each.
The likely line-ups for Schalke 04-Bayer Leverkusen
- SCHALKE 04 (4-3-3): Fährmann; Brunner, Yoshida, Greiml, Matriciani; Kral, Balanta, Krauß; Zalazar, Frey, Bülter.
- BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3-4-1-2): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Bakker; Wirtz; Diaby, Adli.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
