Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen will look to return to winning ways when they host high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt as the Bundesliga resumes post-international break.
Bayer Leverkusen were unbeaten last season, but things have not been that great for them this time around. They have already lost once and have been winless in their last two outings. Xabi Alonso’s men will look to get things back on track when they host Eintracht Frankfurt, who have enjoyed a promising start to the new campaign.
The home team are fifth with 11 points in their six outings. They have won three, lost one and drawn two of their games thus far. Following their 1-1 draw against giants Bayern Munich, they once again dropped points against Holstein Kiel (2-2 draw).
Alonso will look to ensure they get back on winning ways, but it won’t be easy as they will go up against 3rd-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. They have 13 points in their six outings thanks to four wins, a draw and a defeat thus far.
After being on a four-match winning streak in the Bundesliga, they ended up playing out a draw against Bayer in their last outing. Given the kind of form the visitors have been in, they will be confident of taking down the defending champions. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso could be without his star attacker Florian Wirtz as he is a major doubt for this fixture after getting subbed off in Germany’s win over the Netherlands. Apart from Wirtz, the home team will have a fully-fit squad. Lukas Hradecky should continue in goal as Alonso is expected to stick to the 3-4-2-1 formation.
Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie will form the back three. They will aim for a clean sheet and will receive support from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will feature as wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Aleix García will pair up with former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka. The duo will look to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball. Amine Adli should start alongside Martin Terrier in the attacking midfield role in behind star striker Victor Boniface.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Garcia, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Adli; Boniface
Eintracht Frankfurt
The visitors will be without the services of Oscar Hojlund, who is struggling with an ankle problem. Eintracht Frankfurt should stick to the 4-4-2 formation, and Kevin Trapp, who is back fit, should return between the sticks.
Rasmus Kristensen and Arthur Theate will be the full-backs for Frankfurt, while Robin Koch could return to the starting XI as he has returned to team training, and the manager is confident about his availability. The former Leeds United star should pair up with Tuta in the heart of the defence.
Ansgar Knauff and Niels Nkounkou could start out wide on the flanks in midfield, with Ellyes Shkiri and Hugo Larsson taking up the central role. In attack, Hugo Ekitike should pair up with Omar Marmoush, who has been in red hot form.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Trapp; Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate; Knauff, Shkiri, Larsson, Nkounkou; Ekitike, Marmoush
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have won 26 out of the last 43 matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, who only have 14 wins to their name.
- Leverkusen won 24 games at home against Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, the most against a single opponent.
- The two teams have never played out a single 0-0 stalemate in their 78 Bundesliga meetings.
- With just 11 points out of their first six games, Leverkusen have made the worst start to a league season by a defending champion in the last 12 years.
- Leverkusen have the second-best attack (16 goals) in the competition while Frankfurt have the third-best attack (14 goals).
Player to Watch
Omar Marmoush
Marmoush has made a phenomenal start to the new season. He has scored nine goals and bagged six assists in his nine outings so far. In the league, he has eight goals and four assists in just six outings. The Egyptian international has played a big part in Frankfurt’s incredible start and given the kind of form he is in, he can surely guide them past the defending champions.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
A match-up between two strong squads. While Bayer Leverkusen are defending champions and they should be considered favourites for this fixture, they have not made an ideal start to the new season.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt have been playing an impressive brand of football, and they will make life difficult for the Xabi Alonso’s team. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for the visitors.