Who can declare derby bragging rights?

League leaders Bayer Leverkusen will look to proceed their spectacular kind once they face Borussia Mönchengladbach in Saturday’s Rhine derby.

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen saved their title cost on monitor with a dramatic comeback victory over RB Leipzig final weekend. Nathan Tella cancelled out Xavi Simons’ opener, earlier than Loïs Openda restored Leipzig’s slender benefit. Whereas Jonathan Tah was capable of degree the scoreline, the competition seemed destined to complete all sq.. That was till Piero Hincapié netted a 91st-minute winner to safe a fourth consecutive league win.

Having now gained 15 of their 18 top-flight matches (D3), die Werkself are sitting prime of the Bundesliga desk with a four-point lead over Bayern Munich, who beat Union Berlin of their sport in hand on Wednesday.

After starting the yr with back-to-back away video games, Xabi Alonso’s facet will now return to Bay Enviornment, the place they’ve dropped simply two factors this season. Leverkusen have additionally fared properly in latest video games towards Gladbach, having gained seven of their final eight head-to-head conferences (D1), together with a snug 3-0 win within the reverse fixture.

Group Information

Exequiel Palacios, Victor Boniface and Arthur are dominated out by harm.
Jonathan Tah will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow playing cards, whereas Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou and Amine Adli are on worldwide obligation.

Gladbach

After starting the yr with a win over Stuttgart, Gladbach spurned the prospect to assert back-to-back victories in final weekend’s residence conflict with Augsburg. Jordan gave Gladbach a lead within the twenty sixth minute, earlier than Augsburg’s Phillip Tietz restored parity inside two minutes of the restart. Arne Engels went on to attain the successful aim to sentence Gerardo Seoane’s facet to a 2-1 defeat.

Having gained simply one in all their final 5 league video games (D1, L3), die Fohlen are at present sitting in twelfth place. If they’re to maneuver up the desk, Gladbach might want to enhance on the street after successful simply one in all their eight Bundesliga away matches this season (D3, L4).

Gladbach have conceded a minimum of two targets in seven of their eight away league video games, and their susceptible backline might come underneath strain towards a Leverkusen facet which can be at present the top-flight’s second-highest scorers.

Group Information

Lukas Ullrich, Tomas Cvancara, Jonas Omlin and Maximilian Wöber are all anticipated to overlook out. In the meantime, Rocco Reitz Alassane Plea and Chris Kramer are all doubts, whereas Ito Itakura is at present representing Japan on the Asian Cup.

Associated tales