Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC St. Pauli Preview: Champions League hopefuls target repeat of Pokal outcome

Bayer Leverkusen host St. Pauli for the second time in the space of 11 days.

Kasper Hjulmand’s side aim to get back to winning ways in the Bundesliga after a disappointing draw away at Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, the visitors are full of confidence following a surprise win over VfB Stuttgart.

Bayer Leverkusen

After four successive wins in all competitions, Die Werkself dropped two points once again to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The draw denied them the chance to be within a single point of RB Leipzig and Stuttgart in the chase for a Champions League spot, although they still have a game in hand. 

Before the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie at Olympiacos, Leverkusen will host relegation-threatened St. Pauli for the second time in less than two weeks. B04 comfortably won the DFB-Pokal quarter-final duel 3-0, which is their biggest victory in this fixture since 1997.

Team News

There are no injury worries for the hosts, and Ibrahima Maza could make his return from a knee injury. Christian Kofane struggled to win his place back after the AFCON with Patrik Schick the preferred option upfront for Hjulmand.

St. Pauli

St. Pauli remain in one of the automatic relegation spots despite ending their six-game winless run at home against Stuttgart last week. Their fourth victory of the season is probably the best of the lot, although winning the bragging rights in the derby against HSV might be more memorable for the fans.

That matchday two win is their only success away from home, with the last three all ended in defeats. Alexander Blessin’s troops will hope to avoid a third loss to Leverkusen this term as the reverse Bundesliga duel was decided by Ernst Poku’s second-half winner.

Team News

Blessin didn’t make any substitution until the injury-time in their triumph against Stuttgart the previous week. Defenders Eric Smith and Hauke Wahl are still out, while Joel Fujita and Mathias Pereira Lage might be ready to make the matchday squad. Martijn Kaars is expected to start upfront once again, with Andréas Hountondji and Ricky-Jade Jones unavailable due to injuries.

Predicted Lineups

Leverkusen: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich ©, Tapsoba; Vazquez, Palacios, Aleix Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Terrier; Schick

St. Pauli: Vasilj; Dzwigala, Ando, Mets; Saliakas, Sands, Irvine ©, Pyrka; Sinani, Rasmussen; Kaars