Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04 meet at BayArena, in a match for the 33rd round of the Bundesliga. In the last head-to-head for this edition of the league, on 19-12-2018, Bayer Leverkusen got an away win by (1-2). The record of direct confrontations in this stadium is favorable to the visiting team, which in the last 4 matches won 2, drew 1 and lost 1. Indeed, the last time these two teams met in this stadium was on 02-25-2018 , in a match for the Bundesliga that ended with the victory of Schalke 04 by (0-2). G. Burgstaller (11 ‘) and N. Bentaleb (89’) scored the goals of the match for Schalke 04. The home / away condition deserves particular attention, since despite this being a match between 5 th and 15 th of the table of the league, in reality it is a match between the 6th classified in home games and the 10th as a visitor.
Bayer Leverkusen:
After 17 wins, 3 draws and 12 losses, the home team is currently in the 5 th position, with 54 points won. In the last match, they have won at home against Eintracht Frankfurt by (6-1), after in the previous match they have won (1-4) a league match against Augsburg. This is a team little affected by the home factor, that is, usually conquer as many points at home as outside. In his last games he scored 31 goals and suffered 24 at home, against 32 scored and 26 suffered as a visitor. For the league, Bayer Leverkusen won 21 points out of 30 possible points, after 7 wins and 3 losses in the last 10 home matches. The team has conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but its attack has scored regularly, as it has always scored at least one goal in the last 10 matches for this competition. In 32 matches in this competition, he only managed 2 comebacks in the 11 games in which he suffered the first goal.
Leverkusen enter this motivated match, after a home win, by 6-1, in the reception at Eintracht Frankfurt: Havertz, Brandt, Alario, Aránguiz and Hinteregger (own goal) scored the goals of the win. The local team is known for its deadly counterattacks, being that it has excellent players for this function. It should be noted that the Leverkusen usually gives a good response when it is in a disadvantaged position. Contrary to the rival of this day, the whole house must act in a tactical system in 5-2-3, with the aim of using the lateral corridors to invest in the offensive process. So, it is guessed that Leverkusen will adopt a more offensive stance, with the aim of trying to control the game. Coach Peter Bosz will not be able to count on Bailey, Pohjanpalo, Bellarabi and Retsos, for being injured.
Schalke 04:
After 8 wins, 7 draws and 17 losses, the away team is currently in the 15 th position of the league, with 31 points won. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Borussia Dortmund, by (2-4). In the last match, they tied in a home match against Augsburg, by (0-0). This is a team that usually gets more positive results in away matches than at home, since they have won 17 points in away matches and 14 at their stadium, with 20 goals scored and 26 conceded in away matches, against 16 goals scored and 28 conceded at home. For the league, Schalke 04 won 13 points out of 30 possible points, after 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses in the last 10 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (6 out of 16 matches). Defensive consistency has not been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 32 matches in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 20 times and only managed 1 comeback.
Schalke enters this day after a home draw, to zero, at the reception to Augsburg. Contrary to the rival of this day, the foreign team must act in a tactical system in 5-3-2, with the objective of taking advantage of fast transitions. In any case, we believe that Schalke will adopt a more defensive stance, with the aim of trying not to suffer the first goal. The two great lagoons of the visiting club are the completion of goal opportunities and the fact of not being able to avoid, sometimes, the trap of the offside. Coach Huub Stevens will not be able to count on Konoplyanka, Mendyl, Uth, Schopf, Serdar, Sané and Fahrmann, for being injured.
