Die Werkself out to continue red-hot form

Bayer Leverkusen will look to prolong their seven-game unbeaten run after they tackle Union Berlin in Saturday’s conflict on the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

Union Berlin

Union are nonetheless trying to find their first win of 2026 after failing to win all of their seven Bundesliga matches because the flip of the 12 months (D4, L3). In reality, Steffen Baumgart’s aspect have misplaced three of their earlier 4 matches, together with a 3-2 loss in final Saturday’s away conflict in opposition to Hamburg. As a results of their poor form, Union have slipped into the underside half of the desk, though they nonetheless boast a wholesome six-point hole to the underside three.

They will probably be determined to declare their first league win since December in Saturday’s residence fixture, however that will probably be simpler mentioned than carried out for a membership that has not crushed Leverkusen since choosing up a 1-0 victory in January 2021. The first purpose may dictate Union’s possibilities of victory, given the truth that they’ve failed to win any of the 11 Bundesliga video games during which they’ve conceded first this time period (D4, L7).

Team News

Union are unable to name upon the companies of Diogo Leite, Tom Roth, Josip Juranović and Robert Skov.

Predicted lineup: Rønnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Nsoki; Haberer, Khedira, Kemlein, Köhn; Jeong, Burke; Ilić

Bayer Leverkusen

In distinction to their hosts, Leverkusen will head into the weekend in excessive spirits after successful six of their earlier seven aggressive matches (D1), together with their final two. Kasper Hjulmand’s aspect cruised to a 4-0 victory in final Saturday’s Bundesliga residence conflict with St. Pauli, earlier than they recorded a 2-0 success in Thursday’s Europa League assembly with Olympiacos. Patrik Schick’s quickfire brace has put Leverkusen in a robust place of their knockout part playoff tie forward of subsequent week’s return leg on the BayArena.

While they could have one eye on the second leg, Leverkusen will flip their focus again to their Champions League qualification bid. As it stands, Leverkusen are sitting in sixth spot and three factors adrift of the highest 4 after successful 12, drawing three and shedding six of their 21 league matches this season.

They ought to fancy their possibilities of taking most factors from Saturday’s fixture, having received 4 of their earlier 5 video games in opposition to Union, together with a 2-0 victory in October’s reverse fixture.

Team News

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken stays sidelined with a knee damage, whereas Eliesse Ben Seghir and Nathan Tella are out with ankle and foot accidents respectively.

Predicted lineup: Blaswich; Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba; Arthur, Fernández, García, Grimaldo; Tillman, Terrier; Kofane