Bayer Leverkusen must win against Eintracht Frankfurt to keep their faint hopes of winning the Bundesliga alive when they travel to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday.
The Eagles are third with 42 points but were comfortably beaten 4-0 by league-leaders Bayern Munich last Sunday, whereas Leverkusen defeated Holstein Kiel 2-0 last Saturday and are second with 50 points but trail Bayern by eight points.
Match preview
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Eintracht Frankfurt kept Bayern at bay until first-half stoppage time, but they struggled to contain the Bavarians in the second half, facing six big chances while creating none of their own.
The hosts have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their past six outings, a period in which they conceded 11 goals.
Head coach Dino Toppmoller's side had scored in their prior 21 league fixtures, and their return of 49 Bundesliga goals makes them the top flight's third-best offensive club.
The Eagles' recent form has been subpar considering they have drawn three, lost two and won just one of their last six games.
Toppmoller's team boast a phenomenal record at home, with the club winning nine and drawing two of their past 12 at Deutsche Bank Park.
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Bayer Leverkusen were dominant against Holstein Kiel, limiting their opponents to just one attempt from inside the box, while their 14 shots inside Holstein's penalty area totalled 1.69 xG.
The champions have now kept three consecutive clean sheets, as many as they had managed in their previous 10.
However, boss Xabi Alonso will know that his side's chances of retaining the title are small given seven of Bayern's remaining 11 Bundesliga matches come against clubs in the bottom half of the table.
The Spanish manager will at least be confident that his team can take all three points on Saturday considering they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the reverse fixture on October 19, winning for the fourth consecutive time against the Eagles.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 21 top-flight outings, but while they triumphed in 10 of their past 13, they have drawn three of their five most recent games in the league.
Die Schwarzroten are also undefeated in their last 28 games on the road in the Bundesliga, emerging victorious on 20 occasions.
Team News
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Eintracht Frankfurt will have to shuffle their backline given centre-back Tuta is suspended, while Robin Koch is injured.
Rasmus Kristensen, Nnamdi Collins and Arthur Theate will likely feature in a back three between wing-backs Ansgar Knauff and Nathaniel Brown considering Junior Dina Ebimbe will miss out on Saturday.
Striker Igor Matanovic could soon return to action following an enforced layoff, but the weekend may come too soon, so expect Hugo Ekitike to be joined in attack by Mario Gotze and Can Uzun.
As for Leverkusen, regular centre-back Piero Hincapie picked up a yellow card last time out and is suspended, while Jeanuel Belocian will miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Mario Hermoso may come into the starting XI, and he could play alongside Edmond Tapsoba and Jonathan Tah in a back three.
Attackers Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface are almost certain to appear in a front three, though Martin Terrier and Nathan Tella are not available.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Kristensen, Collins, Theate; Knauff, Skhiri, Larsson, Brown; Gotze, Uzun; Ekitike
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hermoso; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Boniface
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
It is difficult to see the visitors losing on Saturday given their strong showings on the road this campaign.
However, Leverkusen have struggled for victories in recent weeks, and it would not be surprising if Eintracht Frankfurt earned a point.
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Lewis Nolan
