Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen could close the gap to leaders Bayern Munich to three points with a victory in the Bundesliga against visitors VfL Bochum on Friday at BayArena.
The home side have 56 points after 26 matchweeks following their 4-3 victory against Stuttgart on March 16, whereas Bochum were beaten 3-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt on the same date and are third last in 16th place with 20 points.
Match preview
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Leverkusen trailed 2-0 by the 48th minute and 3-1 by the 62nd minute against Stuttgart, but a stoppage-time winner from Patrik Schick earned them a memorable comeback victory.
The win was of vital importance to Xabi Alonso's side given Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Union Berlin on March 15.
However, the Spanish boss will be concerned by his side's defensive frailty considering they have conceded 10 goals in their last four outings.
With just eight games remaining in the Bundesliga season, it would be surprising if the reining champions managed to pip the Bavarians to the title, but a win on Friday would at least ramp up the pressure on their rivals.
Die Schwarzroten come into the clash in poor form having been defeated in three of their past four in all competitions while failing to score in three of those matches.
The hosts are also winless in their three most recent fixtures at home – losing two – but they did triumph in each of their previous 10 at BayArena.
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As for Bochum, though they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt they should still be praised for their offensive display given they were able to produce three big chances and 14 shots from inside the box.
The visitors' position in the top flight is precarious considering they occupy the division's relegation playoff spot but are only one point above 17th-placed Heidenheim and three above 18th-placed Holstein Kiel, both of whom are set to be automatically relegated as things stand.
A win on Friday would take Die Blauen two points behind 15th-placed St Pauli, and head coach Dieter Hecking will take confidence from his side's previous clash against Leverkusen on November 9, a game in which they earned a point after drawing 1-1.
While Bochum are in mixed form having lost two, drawn two and won two of their past six in the Bundesliga, they emerged victorious against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in that period.
Hecking's team are unbeaten in their last three away from home in the top flight, drawing two and winning one, but they did succumb to defeat in 17 of their prior 20 on the road in the Bundesliga.
Team News
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Leverkusen are dealing with several injury issues and will be without defenders Edmond Tapsoba, Jeanuel Belocian and Mario Hermoso, the latter of whom will not return this season.
Perhaps Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie could be stationed in front of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky in a back three.
Given that forwards Florian Wirtz, Martin Terrier and Nathan Tella are unavailable as a result of injury, Alonso may select Amine Adli, Aleix Garcia and Patrik Schick ahead of midfielders Granit Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios.
Bochum have contrastingly fewer injury issues, though centre-back Bernardo and winger Koji Miyoshi will not be in the matchday XI.
Expect Tim Oermann, Ivan Ordets and Jakov Medic to appear in central defence behind a trio of Matus Bero, Ibrahima Sissoko and Tom Krauss.
In the forward line, striker Gerrit Hofmann may be fielded alongside attacker Giorgos Masouras in a front two.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Garcia; Schick
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Horn; Oermann, Ordets, Medic; Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Krauss, Wittek; Hofmann, Masouras
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 VfL Bochum
Leverkusen will be incentivised by the opportunity to pile pressure on Bayern, but they are unlikely to find Friday's clash straightforward with so many forwards missing.
Additionally, the visitors have proven capable of beating the Bundesliga's elite, though they may ultimately lose given their poor record on the road.
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Lewis Nolan
