Both Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to get things back on track after failing to win their last two Bundesliga outings when they square up against each other at the Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.
The home team are 11th on the table with 26 points in their 23 outings. HSV have won six, drawn eight and lost nine games so far. Hamburg have won two out of their last five matches, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of a defeat at the hands of RB Leipzig.
While they did showcase some fight against one of the giants, Leipzig came from a goal behind to get the job done. Having been winless in their last two outing, Hamburg will look to get things back on track against Bayer Leverkusen, but it certainly won’t be easy.
The visitors are sixth on the table with 40 points in their 23 outings. They have won 12, drawn four and lost seven outings so far. Leverkusen have not been in the best of form of late, having won just two out of their last five league outings.
Just like the home team, Die Werkself are also winless in their last two. Post their shocking defeat to Union Berlin, they could only manage a draw against FSV Mainz last time out. Leverkusen are six points behind fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart with a game in hand; they will be looking to reduce that gap with a win here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
The home team will be without the services of Fabio Balde (thigh), Nicolas Capaldo (unspecified), Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit (ankle), and Miro Muheim (suspended). Apart from them, everyone else is expected to be available for selection.
Hamburger SV will line up in a 3-4-3 formation, where Daniel Heuer Fernandes will be in goal. In the heart of the defence, Warmed Omari will start alongside Jordan Torunarigha and Luka Vuskovic.
The trio will look to keep things tight at the back and will receive significant support from Giorgi Gocholeishvili and William Mikelbrencis, who will feature as the wing-backs for Hamburger SV against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek league clash.
As for the midfield unit, Fabio Vieira will partner with Nicolai Remberg in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure the Bayer Leverkusen midfielders do not run the show. Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Philip Otele will feature on the flanks for the home team, providing much-needed width to their attacks, while Robert Glatzel will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Fernandes; Omari, Vuskovic, Torunarigha; Gocholeishvili, Vieira, Remberg, Mikelbrencis; Konigsdorffer, Glatzel, Otele
The visitors will be without the services of Loic Bade (thigh), Nathan Tella (foot), Malik Tillman (ankle), Mark Flekken (knee), Arthur (ankle), Victor Boniface (knee), and Lucas Vazquez (unspecified).
Bayer Leverkusen will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Janis Blaswich will take charge in goal. The back three will be made up of Edmond Tapsoba, Robert Andrich and the highly sought-after Jarell Quansah.
The trio will receive significant support from Axel Tape and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will feature as the wing-backs. Meanwhile, Equi Fernandez and Aleix Garcia will take charge in the centre of the park. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game.
Ibrahim Maza and Ernest Poku will feature as the two attacking midfielders behind Patrik Schick, who will continue to spearhead the Bayer Leverkusen attack against Hamburger SV at Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Tape, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Maza, Poku; Schick
The Dutch youth international has only gone from strength to strength since joining the German outfit in the last summer transfer window. The 22-year-old has grown in confidence with every passing game and has established himself as a key figure in the team.
Poku has been involved in a total of 34 matches for the German club, racking up close to 2,000 minutes and contributing towards 12 goals. While he prefers playing out wide on the right flank, the youngster has been used in a variety of roles on either flank, and he has done a great job. Leverkusen will be hoping for another top-class performance from the youngster.
Both teams will be keen to put an end to their recent struggles, but Bayer Leverkusen arrive with greater quality and depth despite their injury concerns. Hamburger SV are capable of making things difficult at home and could trouble the visitors with their intensity and direct approach, especially in the early stages.
However, Bayer Leverkusen’s superior tactical structure and attacking options should eventually make the difference. While it may not be a comfortable evening, the visitors are expected to edge a competitive contest and pick up a crucial three points as they look to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Kasper Hjulmand and his charges.
