Bayer Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg – Bundesliga – Preview

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Sreya

Bayer Leverkusen resume their Bundesliga campaign after the international break against Wolfsburg at the BayArena on 1st April, Friday. It is a crucial fixture as far as the Bundesliga table is concerned in terms of European qualification for next season.

Bayer Leverkusen are only two points behind the fourth-placed Schalke on the sixth position in league standings with forty two points. Wolfsburg, who performed exceptionally well in their domestic campaign last season, are struggling on the eighth position with thirty eight points from twenty seven matches.

Leverkusen returned to top six after back to back wins against Hamburger and SV and VfB Stuttgart prior to the international break. Wolfsburg, on the contrary, have failed to win their last two matches, losing to Hoffenheim and drawing against Darmstadt.

Team News

Kevin Kampl, Roberto Hilbert, Sebastian Boenisch, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Omar Toprak are sidelined through injuries for Bayer Leverkusen while Chicarito is yet to regain his match fitness. Charles Aranguiz and Lars Bender are ready to return to matchday squad after lengthy spells on the treatment table.

Wolfsburg have their own list of absentees with Sebastian Jung, Naldo and Daniel Caligiuri ruled out of the match. Luiz Gustavo will fight fatigue having returned from his national setup on Thursday only. Bas Dost and Diego Benaglio have been listed as doubts as well.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“It’s been an extremely valuable time for both. They were able to make full use of the past two weeks, and it did them good. They’ve made another step forward. Charles has been out for six months, Lars Bender has missed five months, and only featured in seven of our 27 games, which is crazy. All the nicer it is that both are stable now and can maybe play a role on Friday.”

– Roger Schmidt, Bayer Leverkusen.

“Bayer Leverkusen have a lot of fast and dynamic players in their attack. That’s something we must get a grip on. Bayer have had problems at the back throughout this season. Those are weaknesses we need to find and expose.”

– Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Wolfsburg have won four out of the last six matches against Bayer Leverkusen, with Schmidt’s side tasting victory only once. Leverkusen have scored at least two goals in seven of their previous eight encounters with Wolfsburg in all competitions.

It should be a closely contested affair but based on current form, Bayer Leverkusen are likely to win, with a 2-1 result in favor of the hosts being the most likely outcome.