With a Bayer Leverkusen filled with attacking flair facing a Schalke side that has provided the Bundesliga with plenty of thrills, expect to be suitably entertained from the moment this game gets under way on Sunday (kick-off 15:30 CET/14:30 GMT).
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Leverkusen were relieved to see midfielder Wendell return to full training this week after the Brazilian shook off the effects of a bruised foot that saw him hobble out of last weekend's 2-1 win at Hamburg. Lars Bender continues to nurse a hamstring tear, while Jonathan Tah has been laid low with flu.
Weston McKennie is making a speedy recovery from a knee injury, but is unlikely to return in time to for Schalke's challenge at the BayArena. A foot problem hampered Leon Goretzka earlier in the week, however, the Bayern Munich-bound midfielder was feeling fit enough in the following days and is expected in the visitors' line-up on Saturday. Meanwhile, Max Meyer returns from suspension.
Watch: Leon Bailey's first Bundesliga goal came in the corresponding game this term
Probable line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno – Jedvaj, S. Bender, Retsos - Heinrichs, Kohr, Aranguiz, Wendell - Brandt, Volland, Bailey
Absentees: L. Bender (hamstring), Tah (virus)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich
Schalke: Fährmann - Kehrer, Naldo, Nastasic - Caligiuri, Meyer, Goretzka, Schöpf, Oczipka – Embolo, Di Santo
Absentees: Baba (fitness), Insua (ribs), McKennie (knee)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco
Match stats
Leon Bailey scored his first Bundesliga goal in the corresponding fixture earlier this season and has taken his scoring tally to nine in the proceeding 16 games.Schalke would leapfrog their opponents and land in the top four with a win. Leverkusen's Julian Brandt celebrated his Bundesliga debut against Schalke on 15 February 2014. Schalke have won just one of the last seven meetings between these teams. There has been at least one goal in the previous 34 games between the rivals, with the last scoreless draw happening in October 2000.Both sides failed to qualify for Europe last season, but seem certain to return to continental competition following this campaign.
Source: bundesliga.com