Bayer Leverkusen will look to make it three wins in a row when they host SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga. Since securing their promotion back to Germany’s top division, the visitors have dropped both of their league games.
Preview (Bayer Leverkusen vs. SV Darmstadt 98)
Die Werkself have continued where they left off with two impressive victories after dramatically improving after Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager last October, with the former Bayern Munich midfielder leading Leverkusen from the relegation zone into a Europa League qualification spot by the end of the season. After destroying Teutonia Ottersen 8-0 in the DFB-Pokal, Leverkusen overcame RB Leipzig 3-2. They followed it by defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-0 the following weekend.
Victor Boniface, who cost roughly £20 million scored his first league goals for the team. Alonso’s team put up a tremendously successful performance. They controlled 60% of the ball and landed 11 shots on goal. Leverkusen lost Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa during the summer transfer window. They made tremendously wise signings. They bringing in players with star potential like Alejandro Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, and Nathan Tella.
As a result, Alonso will want to qualify for the Champions League this season at the very least, whether it is through league positioning or by winning the Europa League (or even both). In fact, Darmstadt’s goals for this season will be far more modest as they attempt to become just the second team in their history to remain in the Bundesliga. Only one of their previous four seasons at this level had a successful conclusion without an immediate promotion to the second tier, which occurred eight years ago when they finished 14th. Even though they gave it their all in a 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening weekend, their 4-1 loss to Union Berlin the following week showed a much grimmer picture for their chances of surviving.
Team News
After being dismissed during the close of the previous season, Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli will be absent from Leverkusen for one more game. However, both players will be back in the lineup following the forthcoming international break. As Patrik Schick and Sardar Azmoun aren’t expected to be fully recovered from their calf and groin injuries. Boniface will continue to lead the line, with Hofmann and Florian Wirtz close behind. Due to shoulder and knee ailments, respectively, Alexander Brunst and Emir Karic will not be traveling.
Christoph Zimmermann, a former Norwich City defender, missed his team’s 4-1 loss to Union Berlin due to illness. He should be cleared to return this weekend as the center of the visiting defense. Leverkusen scored six goals in each of their first two triumphs despite being without Diaby. They will be confident that they can score ten goals this weekend. Darmstadt is up against it to avoid taking a thrashing from Alonso’s team after giving up four goals to Union Berlin. This was despite playing with an additional player for most of the game.
Bayer Leverkusen 3 – 0 SV Darmstadt 98
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