Confirmed lineups: Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Salzburg
| Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images. |
With just over an hour to go until kick-off, Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has announced his starting eleven to take on a RB Salzburg team who are idling in their domestic league and 14 points behind leaders Sturm Graz albeit with two games in hand.
The club from North Rhine-Westphalia have looked a fraction off their blistering form last season. A statement most clearly evidenced by their last European involvement which culminated in a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. Prior to that, Alonso's men managed a draw with Brest as well as two wins over AC Milan and Feyenoord.
Tonight, Leverkusen make two changes to their winning line-up which rallied back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Heidenheim 5-2 on Saturday. Matej Kovár gets the nod between the posts as Jonathan Tah captains the side. Jeremie Frimpong starts on the right with Granit Xhaka and Robin Andrich in midfield, while Alejandro Grimaldo takes up the left flank.
Moving into the attacking third, the only other alteration is Exequiel Palacios who has been selected over Aleix Garcia to partner Florian Wirtz. Patrik Schick will look to maintain his fine form after a hattrick last time out.
As for the visitors, they come into the game after a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to fifth-place LASK Linz last weekend. Head coach Pep Lijnders has opted to start with a 4-3-3 formation including promising young stars like Kamil Piatkowski of Poland, England's Bobby Clark in midfield, and Israeli talent Oscar Gloukh on the left wing.
