Hamburg vs. Leverkusen: Team news Expect Leon Bailey to return to the starting XI for Leverkusen when they face Hamburg on Saturday. vor 2 Stunden

Published on: 14 February 2018

Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen will be keen to get back to winning ways – albeit for contrasting reasons – when they meet on Saturday (15:30 CET/14:30 GMT).

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Hamburg dropped deeper into the relegation mire with defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 22, and they desperately need a first Bundesliga win since 26 November to kick-start their bid for survival. The Red Shorts can call on centre back Kyriakos Papadopoulos again after the Greek served a ban for his red card against Hannover, while Lewis Holtby is also available after recovering from a cold. Albin Ekdal, however, missed some training during the week with an ankle problem.

Following an extra-time DFB cup win over Werder Bremen, Leverkusen boss Heiko Herrlich tried to freshen his side up for the 2-0 defeat at home to Hertha Berlin. So expect key attacking players like Charles Aranguiz and Leon Bailey to come straight back into the starting eleven this weekend. Captain Lars Bender again misses out through injury, though.

Watch: Leon Bailey the new Arjen Robben?

Probable line-ups

Hamburg: Mathenia – Jung, Papadopoulos, van Drongelen - Sakai (c), Ekdal, Walace, Douglas – Kostic, Wood, Hunt
Absentees: Müller (knee)
Coach: Bernd Hollerbach

Leverkusen: Leno – S. Bender, Tah, Wendell – Henrichs, Baumgartlinger, Aranguiz, Bailey – Volland, Alario, Brandt
Absentees: L. Bender (hamstring)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich

Match stats

Hamburg are the only team in the league not to have won in their last nine matches. They have only picked up two points in the second half of the season.Leverkusen have not scored in their past two Bundesliga matches, having netted in each of their first 20 league games before that.Filip Kostic could make his 50th appearance for the Red Shorts, who have lost 199 Bundesliga matches at home in their history.The visitors are the only team in the league who have gone unbeaten in their last eight away matches.In the last nine meetings of the sides, the home team has won eight times and there was one draw. Leverkusen won the previous fixture this season 3-0, when Lucas Alario scored on his Bundesliga debut.Leverkusen boss Heiko Herrlich’s first win as a Bundesliga coach was against Hamburg, when his Bochum side beat them in November 2009.

Live updates

Source: bundesliga.com

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