Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hertha Berlin: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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The injuries are racking up for Leverkusen and coach Gerardo Seoane must be cursing his luck as a result. Wirtz has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, a fate also suffered by Jeremie Frimpong. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also out for the foreseeable future, and - to make matters worse - young winger Amine Adli picked up an injury on international duty with France U21s and left the pitch in tears as his campaign was ended prematurely. Leverkusen must also do without the suspended Kerem Demirbay, which means Charles Aranguiz should start in midfield. There is one piece of good news for Seoane and his men in the form of Czech striker Patrik Schick, who is back in training and pushing Lucas Alario and Sardar Azmoun for a starting berth in attack.

Hertha's woes, meanwhile, are linked more to performances than the treatment room, with veteran tactician Felix Magath brought in to stop the rot. Magath has so far done the trick, ending a nine-game run without victory at the first attempt as Hertha beat Hoffenheim 3-0 on Matchday 27. The multiple Bundesliga winner was not in the dugout to savour those three points but is now out of isolation and will be at the BayArena on Saturday. The Old Lady currently occupy the promotion/relegation play-off place of 16th going into week 28, with just goal difference separating them from the two teams directly above them. Rune Jarstein is back in training after missing the entire season through injury, while Lukas Klünter and Vladimir Darida are also in contention after illness.

Match stats

Schick is averaging a goal every 76 minutes in this season's Bundesliga.

Paulinho is Leverkusen's 16th different Bundesliga goalscorer in 2021/22. League-wide, only Hoffenheim boast a greater spread (17 players).

Leverkusen are winless in their last five Bundesliga games against Hertha (D2, L3).

Stevan Jovetic is Hertha's six-goal top scorer this season, but Ishak Belfodil leads the way for the calendar year with two.

Hertha are third bottom of the away table, with eight points, nine goals scored and 33 against.

Magath has lost 15 of 29 Bundesliga meetings with Leverkusen as a coach. He has only suffered more losses (18) in games against Bayern Munich.

Probable line-ups

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker - Andrich, Aranguiz - Bellarabi, Diaby, Paulinho - Alario

Out: Adli (Achilles), Demirbay (suspended), Fosu-Mensah (thigh), Frimpong (ankle), Lunev (ankle), Wirtz (knee)

Doubtful: Schick (calf)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Boyata (c), Kempf, Plattenhardt - Stark - Richter, Tousart, Ascacibar, Mittelstädt - Belfodil

Out: Bjorkan (ankle), Lee (ankle)

Doubtful: Jarstein (knee)

Coach: Felix Magath

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena

Hertha Berlin

Olympiastadion

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