Matchday 32 of the Bundesliga provides us with a top end of the table clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC.
Not long a go it seemed that Hertha's 3rd place position seemed secure. However, after numerous fixtures in which Pál Dárdai's team dropped points, Roger Schmidt's Leverkusen were fast on the tails of Hertha as they now sit in 3rd. Leverkusen go into the game five points ahead of Hertha below them in 4th, the capital club are being chased once more, this time by Borussia Mönchengladbach who are currently one point behind them.
Form
Leverkusen are the form team in the Bundesliga, winning their previous six league games and conceding just two goals in the process. Their two conceded came in last week's win at Schalke 04 in which they came from two goals down early on to turn the game around in the second half, and eventually win 3-2 thanks to goals from in form front men; Julian Brandt, Karim Bellarabi and Javier Hernandez.
Hertha have reached a daunting three fixtures in the Bundesliga, as they face the league top three in three weeks. A 3-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund followed by a 2-0 loss at the Olympiastadion to league leaders Bayern Munich. Hertha have not won since their 2-1 win over Ingolstadt six weeks ago, collecting just one point from their previous five league games.
Team news
Unfortunate injury news came from Leverkusen this week, as Wendell has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following an injury sustained in training. Vladlen Yurchenko also faces the possibility of missing the rest of the season after suffering a ligament injury in his knee. Defender Tin Jedvaj is another doubt for the home team following a foot injury.
Shawn Kauter and Vladimir Darida are the only reported injures from the visitors this weekend.
Predicted line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen: (4-2-3-1) Leno; Hendrichs, Tah, Toprak, Ramalho; Bender, Aranguiz; Bellarabi, Çalhanoglu, Brandt; Chicharito.
Hertha BSC: (4-2-3-1) Kraft; Plattenhardt, Lustenberger, Langkamp, Pekarik; Stark, Mittelstädt; Weiser, Stocker, Schieber; Kalou.
If Hertha want to hold off Borussia in 5th, you would think that a win in Leverkusen is essential. However, following the upsurge in quality from Leverkusen, a win at the BayArena will not come easily for the visitors.