Bayer Leverkusen vs St Pauli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Bayer Leverkusen are attempting to get back into the top six in the Bundesliga as they welcome struggling St Pauli to the BayArena on Saturday afternoon.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Back in form
Bayer Leverkusen come into this one on the back of back-to-Back victories and there a draw in the Bundesliga as they hover just outside of the top six and the European spots in the Bundesliga, under the management of former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand.
The home team most recently shared a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend. That came after Leverkusen had defeated St Pauli by three goals to nil in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal a few days earlier.
St Pauli preview: Showing some fight
Alexander Blessin has been coming under pressure in charge of St Pauli throughout the campaign. The Hamburg-based outfit are firmly involved down towards the bottom end of the table in the relegation battle in the Bundesliga.
They recovered from that loss to Leverkusen by defeating Stuttgart by two goals to one at the Millerntor in Hamburg last week, courtesy of goals in either half scored by right wing-back Marius Saliakas and Luxembourg international attacking midfielder Daniel Sinani.
Bayer Leverkusen team news: A few injuries
Bayer Leverkusen have a couple of key injury doubts, such as Tim Oermann and Ibrahim Maza. Mark Flekken, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Nathan Tella are confirmed absentees.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba; Arthur, Ezequiel Fernandez, Aleix Garcia, Alex Grimaldo; Tillman, Hofmann; Schick
Unavailable: Flekken (Injured), Ben Seghir (Injured), Tella (Injured)
Questionable: Oermann (Injured), Maza (Injured)
St Pauli team news: Pereira Lage a doubt
Former Stade Brest attacking midfielder Mathias Pereira Lage is a doubt for the visitors, while former Peterborough United striker Ricky-Jade Jones and former Burnley man Andreas Hountondji are confirmed injury absentees.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Vasilj; Dzwigala, Ando, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Sands, Pyrka; Sinani, Rasmussen; Kaars
Unavailable: Nemeth (Injured), Jones (Injured), Hountondji (Injured)
Questionable: Wahl (Injured), Fujita (Injured), Metcalfe (Injured), Smith (Injured), Pereira Lage (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen vs St Pauli prediction
Leverkusen are in the semi-finals of Germany's national cup and they are also in the knockout playoffs in the UEFA Champions League. St Pauli were no match in the league the other week but they were heavily rotated and, back to their absolute best, they will be expected to be stubborn once again. However, Leverkusen do remain favourites in a likely hard-fought clash.
Bayer Leverkusen vs St Pauli tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win & under 3.5 goals
