Bayer Leverkusen vs VfL Bochum preview: Giant killers travel to champs
| Schick scored his first goal of the season in Bochum | Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images |
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen were heading into the international break on the back of four successive defeats during the game in Stuttgart near injury-time. However, Xabi Alonso’s side suddenly regained their formula that stunned the footballing world last season.
Patrik Schick, who was at the center stage in most of Leverkusen’s dramatic comebacks last term, scored a 94th-minute winner to keep Die Werkself’s title dreams. Before traveling to third-tier Bielefeld for Tuesday’s Pokal semi-final, the double winners will entertain Bochum in the opening fixture of matchday 27.
Uncharacteristically, Leverkusen last won at the BayArena almost a couple of months ago. At the start of February, a 3-1 victory over TSG Hoffenheim was followed by an extra-time cup win against fierce rivals Köln. Despite dropping points in half of the last six league games, the gap remains at six points with league leaders Bayern Munich.
Including Bochum’s visit on Friday, the defending champions will battle four teams fighting for survival in succession, with games against Heidenheim, Union Berlin and St. Pauli awaiting them in the coming weeks.
Team News
Leverkusen will be without Nathan Tella and Edmond Tapsoba, but Alonso expects them to return to the side in the next couple of games. Meanwhile, the Spaniard revealed Florian Wirtz is “feeling better” in his pre-match conference, although the star midfielder still needs a bit more time to return to action.
Bochum
Bochum only recorded two wins from their last nine games, but those came against Germany’s biggest clubs: Bayern and Dortmund. With his vast Bundesliga experience, Dieter Hecking managed to get the best out of his limited team against the big guns.
In addition, Myron Boadu inspired Bochum to come from 3-0 down to salvage a point against RB Leipzig back in January. And, in his first game in charge of the club, Hecking managed to share the spoils against Leverkusen (1-1).
Bochum also produced a spirited performance against fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt before the international break, but Kauã Santos’ superb saves proved decisive for the Eagles. Meanwhile, wins for Heidenheim and St. Pauli put them in a difficult situation ahead of the last two months of the season.
Following a trip to last season’s champions, Bochum will face two tricky home games against Stuttgart and Augsburg. Since the second matchday, the Blues have been in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone.
Team News
Koji Miyoshi, who scored Bochum’s late equalizer in the reverse fixture, is a doubt with muscular issues. After missing the Frankfurt game due to suspension, Brazilian defender Bernardo (knee injury) could also be unavailable for this one.
