BLBL2VBL
menu
19/04 6:30 PM
3
1
20/04 1:30 PM
1
0
20/04 1:30 PM
0
2
20/04 1:30 PM
4
3
20/04 1:30 PM
1
2
20/04 4:30 PM
0
0
21/04 1:30 PM
vs
21/04 3:30 PM
vs
21/04 5:30 PM
vs

Far eastern marksmen key in Leverkusen’s clash with Mainz

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Leverkusen - With inconsistency plaguing Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 ahead of their Matchday 11 meeting, both sides will be looking to Far Eastern attackers to help them get back on track at the BayArena on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 14:30 GMT / 15:30 CET).

And as this fixture historically averages close to three goals per game, bundesliga.com looks ahead to a tie that promises plenty of bang for your buck...

The hosts are keen to return to the top four after slipping down to fifth due to recent domestic wobbles. A leaky backline has been the main cause, with 14 goals conceded so far. Meanwhile, after a strong start to the campaign Mainz are struggling for form and could do with the points to regain a foothold on their season.

First-team regulars Simon Rolfes (fitness), Gonzalo Castro (muscular trouble), Stefan Reinartz (fractured eye socket) and Kyriakos Papadopoulos (shoulder) are all out injured, while defender Tin Jedvaj is suspended. That could all mean dropping into a defensive midfield position once more.

Mainz will be missing crocked trio Jonas Hofmann, Christoph Moritz and Robin Zentner through injury, but South Korean international is back in the frame following injury. "He's not yet 100 per cent fit but he can play," said coach Kasper Hjulmand at his pre-match press conference.

hit a brace as Leverkusen beat FC Zenit 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday and his eye for goal will be crucial again here. The South Korean attacker has hit the net four times and provided one assist in the Bundesliga this term, making him a pivotal cog in the Bayer machine.

is equally important for the visitors and the Japanese frontman is the league's joint-leading scorer on six goals so far - exactly half of Mainz's total tally. Any hopes of returning home with the points rest squarely on the 28-year-old's shoulders.

Roger Schmidt (r.), Leverkusen coach: "Mainz are a good team that play attractive football and cover a lot of ground. We can't underestimate them."

Kasper Hjulmand, Mainz coach: "We're not happy with the amount of points we've earned from recent games, but we are satisfied with many aspects of our game."

Leverkusen lost their second league game of 2014/15 against Hamburg last weekend, meaning they have won just six points from the last 15 available. However, a good display in the 2-1 Champions League win over FC Zenit will come as a welcome boost. Mainz have just five points from as many games and threw away the lead to lose 2-1 at home to Bremen last week.

These two have more or less cancelled each other out over the course of the 16 Bundesliga games contested to date: Leverkusen have six wins, Mainz boast seven and there have been three draws. The 05ers have recorded three victories at the BayArena, including a 1-0 triumph when the sides last met in March this year.

Click here to find your local broadcaster for this match.

Possible line-ups:

Leverkusen: Leno - Donati, Spahic, Toprak, Wendell - Bender, Calhanoglu - Bellarabi, Son, Drmic - Kießling

Mainz: Karius - Brosinski, Bell, Bungert, Junior Diaz - Baumgartlinger, Geis - Allagui, Malli, Koo - Okazaki
Check out the best of October's top flight action on the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel: