Union Berlin have the unenviable task of trying to stop unbeaten Bundesliga champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST).
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Union were on the receiving end of a Leverkusen drubbing that spelled the end for Urs Fischer’s historic ride as head coach earlier this season. The chastening 4-0 loss left the Berlin outfit bottom of the table, but fortunes have picked up since Nenad Bjelica took charge. Die Eisernen have collected 23 points from their last 16 games to climb up to 12th and all but end any lingering relegation fears. Although a spirited display helped them hold sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to a goalless draw last time out, Bjelica may be tempted to make changes to his starting line-up. Former Leverkusen striker Kevin Volland could be among those to benefit, while the steel of the suspension-free Andras Schäfer may be preferred to the silk of USA international and Leeds United loanee Brenden Aaronson in midfield.
Leverkusen travel to Berlin knowing they need just three wins from their final seven matches to be crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time. Xabi Alonso’s team could also make history as the first team to go unbeaten through a Bundesliga campaign. That run was nearly ended by Hoffenheim last weekend, but late goals from Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick turned things around. Bayern then lost to Borussia Dortmund to leave the gap between the top two at a surely insurmountable 13 points. Bayer won again in midweek to set up a return trip to Berlin for next month’s DFB Cup final. Die Werkself beat Bundesliga 2’s Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-0 inside 90 minutes to stretch their German record unbeaten run this term to 40 competitive matches. Matěj Kovář, Josip Stanišić and Amine Adli were cycled in, while Victor Boniface made his first appearance of 2024 as a sub following injury. Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios was also back in the squad.
Watch: Xabi Alonso committed to Leverkusen project
Match stats
- Volland produced 50 goals and 32 assists in 148 competitive appearances for Leverkusen between 2016 and 2020.
- Union have won five of seven home games under Bjelica, only losing to Dortmund.
- Left-back Robin Gosens is Union’s six-goal top scorer so far this season.
- Still to taste defeat 27 fixtures in, Leverkusen can equal the record for the number of unbeaten games to start a Bundesliga season. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern and Jürgen Klopp’s Dortmund went the first 28 matches without loss in 2013/14 and 2011/12 respectively.
- Leverkusen have won their last eight Bundesliga games in a row. Nine would be a new club record.
- Alonso oversaw the biggest league win of his tenure against Union (5-0, 6 November 2022). His overall record in the Bundesliga is: W36, D10, L7.
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Probable line-ups
Union: Rønnow – Doekhi, Vogt, Leite – Khedira – Trimmel (c), Tousart, Schäfer, Gosens – Vertessen, Volland
Out: Busk (calf), Haberer (muscular), Roussillon (calf)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Nenad Bjelica
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié – Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo – Hofmann, Wirtz – Schick
Out: –
Doubtful: Arthur (thigh)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
