Leaders aiming to equal unbeaten document

Heidenheim

Heidenheim are surpassing all expectations of their first-ever Bundesliga marketing campaign. Having received seven, drawn six and misplaced eight of their 21 matches, Frank Schmidt’s aspect head into the weekend in ninth place within the league desk.

They will even go into Sunday’s contest off the again of a slim 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen. Lennard Maloney and Jan-Niklas Beste each discovered the online within the opening 18 minutes, earlier than Romano Schmid pulled a purpose again for Bremen. Heidenheim in the end stood agency to assert all three factors and finish a run of 4 consecutive attracts.

Heidenheim have now managed to keep away from defeat in every of their final eight top-flight matches (W4, D4), however they are going to be nicely conscious that their spectacular run of kind shall be put underneath menace by title-chasing Leverkusen. Nevertheless, the hosts might be able to draw inspiration from the very fact they received 2-1 of their earlier house assembly with Leverkusen in a DFB-Pokal conflict in February 2019.

Group Information

The hosts are with out the providers of Marnon Busch, Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj, whereas Denis Thomalla is a doubt resulting from sickness.

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen have had every week to mirror upon their spectacular show in final Saturday’s top-of-the-table conflict with Bayern. Josip Stanišić scored towards his father or mother membership to offer Xabi Alonso’s aspect a slender lead on the break, earlier than Álex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong grabbed a purpose apiece within the second interval to spherical off a memorable 3-0 victory, which moved die Werkself 5 factors clear on the prime of the desk.

Impressively, Leverkusen have now recorded six clear sheets of their final seven league video games, together with shutouts in every of their earlier three Bundesliga outings. Because of this, Leverkusen presently boast the most effective defensive document within the division after conceding simply 14 targets in 21 league matches.

The league leaders will definitely fancy their probabilities of claiming all three factors this weekend after cruising to a 4-1 win over Heidenheim in September’s reverse fixture. Leverkusen’s probabilities of victory will develop considerably if they’ll register the primary purpose, having received all 16 league video games this season the place they’ve opened the scoring.

Group Information

Alonso has confirmed that Granit Xhaka has recovered from a muscle difficulty in time for Saturday’s contest. Nevertheless, the Leverkusen boss is unable to name upon the providers of Exequiel Palacios, Victor Boniface and Arthur.

Extra concerning the match