Bundesliga Preview: Schalke – Bayer Leverkusen

After drawing in recent matches with Hamburg, both Leverkusen and Schalke have another tough test: one another. Will Schalke leap into the top two? Will Leverkusen keep pace with Hamburg? Tune in on Saturday to find out…

Yet Another Test for Magath’s Schalke

After undergoing somewhat of a rough start, Schalke are now among the league’s hottest teams. Coach Felix Magath, once furious with his team’s lack of financial resources, has taken a largely unchanged squad from last year and turned it into a side that truly can be considered among the league’s title contenders.

Having implemented his strict, intense fitness policy at Schalke, Magath’s men are among the league’s most physical sides and it shows. The team’s powerful defenders are unwavering in one-on-one situations, and its forwards have mastered the art of breaking away to score goals.

A spirited showing against Hamburg marked Schalke’s ascent to the league’s elite, even if it only ended in a draw. After going down 2-0 in the first half, Schalke equalized by the 62nd minute. After that point, Schalke had full control, but Hamburg were first to strike. Unfazed, Kevin Kuranyi leveled at the death to save a well-earned point for Schalke.

Now under the microscope for the second time in as many weeks, Schalke look to better last week’s result with a win over Leverkusen. Being without several normal starters, the visitors will likely be cautious, giving Schalke more of the ball. As we saw last week, Schalke are not purely a counter attacking side, and can sustain pressure when in possession. Whether this is feasible against a highly technical Leverkusen team is yet to be decided, but we will see on Saturday.

Leverkusen/Hamburg: Will the Deadlock Ever Break?

It seems that, regardless of fixtures, Hamburg and Leverkusen are destined to remain perpetually level on points. Last week marked a great opportunity for Leverkusen to go clear, but their 1-1 draw with Dortmund was just enough to keep pace with their northern rivals, who drew 3-3 with Schalke. It was Leverkusen’s second consecutive draw, and raised questions of the sustainability of the team’s hold of first place.

Die Werkself have won just two “big” games all season (3-2 v Wolfsburg, 1-0 v Hoffenheim), during both of which coach Juup Heynckes had his full starting line-up (long-term absentee Patrick Helmes notwithstanding) to choose form. Since Renato Augusto sustained a knee injury, Leverkusen have beaten two sides in the relegation struggle, but have drawn their three matches against higher-rated opponents.

Saturday’s match with Schalke may be just another litmus test, but this time a draw may not be acceptable. In addition to Augusto, skipper Simon Rolfes will also be unavailable to anchor the midfield. Deputizing for two of Leverkusen’s most influential figures are Lars Bender and Toni Kroos, aged 20 and 19, respectively. As is often the case with rising stars, the grand stage of Saturday’s match will be seen as a great opportunity to make a lasting impression on Heynckes, and perhaps retain a place in the starting line-up even after Rolfes and Renato Augusto return.

FORM GUIDE

Schalke
28 Oct v 1860 Munich (A) WON 3-0 (DFB Pokal)
25 Oct v Hamburg (H) DREW 3-3 (Bundesliga)
17 Oct v Stuttgart (A) WON 2-1 (Bundesliga)
2 Oct v Frankfurt (H) WON 2-0 (Bundesliga)
26 Sep v Dortmund (A) WON 1-0 (Bundesliga)

Leverkusen
23 Oct v Dortmund (H) DREW 0-0 (Bundesliga)
17 Oct v Hamburg (A) DREW 0-0 (Bundesliga)
3 Oct v Nuernbern (H) WON 4-0 (Bundesliga)
26 Sep v Koeln (A) WON 1-0 (Bundesliga)
23 Sep v Kaiserslautern (A) LOST 2-1 (DFB Pokal)

TEAM NEWS

Schalke

Jermaine Jones, Danny Latza, David Loheider and Pedrag Stevanovic have resumed training, but remain definite absentees. Christian Pander, who suffered serious ligament tears, is also sure to miss Sunday’s encounter.

Possible Starting XI: Neuer – Hoewedes, Zambrano, Bordon, Westermann  – Rafinha, Mineiro, Moritz – Farfam – Altintop-, Kuranyi

Leverkusen

Juup Heynckes will be unable to call upon Renato Augusto (fibula), Simon Rolfes, Patrick Helmes, Pierre De Wit (unfit but back to normal training), and Michal Kadlec all of whom have been ruled unfit to play. Heynckes may either choose the 4-4-2 set-up listed below or a 4-2-3-1, in which case Eren Derdiyok may be sacrificed for perhaps Stefan Reinartz.

Possible Starting XI: Adler – Schwaab, Friedrich, Hyypia, Castro – Kroos, Vidal, Bender, Barnetta – Kiessling, Derdiyok

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jefferson Farfan (Schalke)

The Peruvian midfielder has all the makings of a star. Pace, ball control, passing, playmaking and a thunderous shot are all attributes of the ex-PSV man’s game. While Kevin Kuranyi may ultimately be Schalke’s more likely scorer, look for Farfan to be the provider and a goalscoring threat.

Stefan Kiessling (Leverkusen)

Currently joint top scorer with Bremen’s Claudio Pizarro, Kiessling is finally living up to the hype he generated as a youngster. The man touted as the next Juergen Klinsmann is scoreless in his last two matches, both of which ended in draws, and will need a boost in form if Leverkusen are to win on Saturday.

PREDICTION

Leverkusen have been noticeably weaker in the absence of Renato Augusto and Simon Rolfes, and will play defensively in a hostile Gelsenkirchen environment. Their approach will frustrate a Leverkusen side that prefers playing against offensive opponents, and a scoreless draw or 1-0 win for either side is by no means out of the question. All things considered, a 1-1 draw sounds just about right.

Schalke 1-1 Leverkusen

Clark Whitney, Goal.com

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