Die Werkself seeking to prolong lead

By Ben Sully @SullyBen

Following the postponement of Bayern Munich’s residence assembly with Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen will try to increase their two-point lead on the high of the Bundesliga desk after they play host to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen will carry vital momentum into Sunday’s contest after placing collectively a 14-game successful run in all competitions. Since coming back from the worldwide break, die Werkself have claimed consecutive away victories towards Werder Bremen and Hacken within the Bundesliga and Europa League respectively. They cruised to a 3-0 win over Bremen, earlier than targets from Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick guided Leverkusen to a 2-0 victory in Thursday’s journey to Sweden.

On account of these victories, Leverkusen have now recorded 4 consecutive clear sheets to assist preserve their unbeaten document within the 2023-24 season. Whereas they’ve been sturdy defensively, Xabi Alonso’s aspect have additionally been scientific within the closing third, scoring at the very least two targets in every of their 12 top-flight matches. Having netted 37 league targets this season, they head into Sunday’s contest because the Bundesliga’s second-highest scorers.

After dropping their final two residence video games towards Dortmund, Leverkusen are hoping to beat die Schwarzgelben at BayArena for the primary time since January 2021.

Group Information

Leverkusen have reported no recent damage points, though they’re nonetheless unable to name upon the companies of Arthur.

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund head into Sunday’s contest in fifth place and two factors adrift of RB Leipzig, who claimed a slim 2-1 victory over Heidenheim on Saturday. Whereas their foremost precedence will probably be to maneuver again into the highest 4, Dortmund are additionally hoping to shut the 10-point hole to their opponents.

After struggling back-to-back defeats within the league, Dortmund would have been fearing one other loss after they went two targets down within the opening 28 minutes of final Saturday’s away conflict with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Nevertheless, Die Schwarzgelben produced a powerful response to attain three targets to show the competition of their favour earlier than half time. Donyell Malen added a fourth purpose late on to wrap up all three factors.

Edin Terzic’s aspect then went on to document a powerful 3-1 win over AC Milan in midweek to safe their place within the final 16 of the Champions League. After having fun with success in Italy, Dortmund will now flip their consideration to Sunday’s difficult contest, the place they may try to finish Leverkusen’s unbeaten document. They can take confidence from the very fact they recorded a league double over die Werkself final season. They claimed a slim 1-0 residence win in August 2022, earlier than they picked up a 2-0 victory in January’s away assembly.

Group Information

Niklas Süle, Ramy Bensebaini and Salih Özcan are doubts as a consequence of sickness. In the meantime,
Julien Duranville and Felix Nmecha are dominated out as a consequence of thigh and hip accidents respectively.