Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arminia Bielefeld: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

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Schick scored twice as Leverkusen won the reverse 4-0 and the Czech striker took his tally to 20 goals from 20 appearances in last weekend's 3-2 defeat to Mainz, but was hauled off with a 49th-minute injury that rule him out against Bielefeld. Supersub Lucas Alario replaced Schick and made it 2-1 with 15 minutes to go against the 05ers, before Die Werkself capitulated in the final six minutes. Alario will be hoping he did enough to earn just a second start of the season, and first since Matchday 10. January signing Azmoun is in contention to feature in some capacity after the Iran striker was seen in training this week, but the 27-year-old should only be fit enough to make the bench. Robert Andrich has been struggling with his knee in training, with Charles Aranguiz set to deputise.

Bielefeld have been similarly excellent from the back end of 2021 and into the start of 2022, with Okugawa central to their rise from second bottom at the midway stage to 14th just six games later. The Jaoanese's eighth goal of the campaign sealed a 1-0 win over Union Berlin last time out, a victory that moved Frank Kramer's men three points clear of the promotion/relegation playoff place and six clear of automatic drop zone. With no new injury concerns, Kramer has little reason to change the side that beat Union, although Amos Pieper could replace Guilherme Ramos at centre-back after the former sat out Matchday 23.

Match stats

Leverkusen suffered their first defeat of 2022 in Mainz having been unbeaten in their previous five Bundesliga games.

Die Werkself are unbeaten at home in their last six outings (four wins, two draws).

Lucas Alario is Leverkusen's record goalscoring substitute with the Argentinian netting nine goals from the bench in his five seasons to date at the club.

Bielefeld have picked up 15 points in their last eight games, losing just once during that run.

Gonzalo Castro was at Leverkusen from 1999 to 2015 and scored 25 goals in 286 Bundesliga games for Die Werkself.

With nine Bundesliga goals to his name, Okugawa is Bielefeld's all-time, top scoring Japanese player.

Probable line-ups

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker - Aranguiz, Demirbay - Adli, Wirtz, Diaby - Alario

Out: Bellarabi (hamstring), Lunev (ankle), Schick (calf)

Doubtful: Andrich (knee), Azmoun (knee)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) - Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Laursen - Kunze, Vasiliadis - Wimmer, Schöpf, Okugawa - Serra

Out: Prietl (ill)

Doubtful: Andrade (ankle)

Coach: Frank Kramer