This is a derby of the round between teams that are struggling for placement in the Champions League and Bayer and Schalke have in common that they had long positive series without defeat in the first part of the season as well as having won the placement in the semi-finals of the Cup. In the second half they play somewhat weaker, especially Schalke who has already lost three games, six of them played, while Bayer has one less defeat. In the last round, both teams achieved identical wins with 2-1, while Bayer celebrated as guest. Bayer also has one point more, and their autumn duel in Gelsenkirchen ended with a score of 1-1.
Bayer’s brilliant series was interrupted already in the first round of the second part of the championship, but they have played against Bayern and that defeat is no surprise. But the one two rounds ago against Hertha is, because after the mentioned defeat from the Bavarians, they were again in a positive series of four matches without defeat. They simply failed in that duel against Hertha and failed to score no goals and were defeated with 2-0.
Coach Herrlich has tried with Bailey and Havertz in the team, but it did it help and defeat was inevitable. They recovered again very quickly and in the last round they celebrated away against HSV with 2-1, and the aforementioned duo Bailey and Havertz were the goal scorers after they returned to the starting lineup. Now Tah returns to the center-back, while they should be somewhat more offensive with Alari from the first minute. Only L.Bender is out of action, and Wendell is questionable.
Probable lineups Bayer Leverkusen: Leno – Retsos, S.Bender, Tah, Wendell(Henrichs) – Kohr, Aranguiz – Brandt, Bailey – Volland, Alario
Schalke had a long positive series in the first round of the championship and it was also interrupted immediately at the start when they were defeated against Leipzig. Later, they were expectedly lost as guests by Bayern, but also from Werder at home, which was unlikely to be expected, as well as a home draw with Hannover. They are still successful in the Cup so they will play semi-finals, and they also celebrated in the first round at home against Hoffenheim. They were better, but they did not play anything special, especially since they had a 2-0 lead after the first half an hour.
Later they left the initiative to the guests, but they only received one goal by the end. Nastasic has expectedly returned to the center-back, after he missed the match in Munich due to suspension. M.Meyer was not in the team, but coach Tedesco did not give up on the game with three classic strikers, and unlike Munich, when di Santo was great, as well as Embolo. Now, M.Meyer should be back after the suspension.
Probable lineups Schalke 04: Fahrmann – Kehrer, Naldo, Nastasic – Schopf, D.Caligiuri – M.Meyer – Goretzka – di Santo, Embolo, G.Burgstaller
Both teams are playing something weaker in the second half of the season, and especially Schalke, so Bayer is closer to a victory in this duel, however, this does not mean that the guests will not score and provide good resistance.
Pick: both teams to score
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