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

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"Those were important points on the way to staying up, but it's by no means done. We must continue to do everything we can to achieve our goal." So said Bochum's double scoring match-winner against Hoffenheim, Takuma Asano. After the Japan international's exploits in his team's 2-1 Matchday 28 victory, he seems set to start once again as coach Thomas Reiss looks to inch last season's second division champions ever closer to maintaining their top-flight status for 2022/23. Forward Jürgen Locadia is expected to miss out on the Leverkusen visit as he continues to recover from a hip complaint, while Christopher Antwi-Adjei is touch and go having noted adductor pains in the week.

Confidence is also running high at Leverkusen after Die Werkself earned a second successive Bundesliga win courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Hertha Berlin last time out. The result - which came with the double boost of the return from injury of top-scoring striker Patrik Schick - strengthened Bayer's hold on third-place and had coach Gerardo Seoane admitting that victory bolstered morale going into the Bochum challenge. Karim Bellarabi - who netted Leverkusen's second in the Hertha victory - was left with hip discomfort after the game and was training individually at his club during the week. Sardar Azmoun also missed out on a midweek session as the 27-year-old forward nursed a cold. Kerem Demirbay, meanwhile, is available again following suspension. Leverkusen previously lost Florian Wirtz (knee), Jeremie Frimpong (ankle), Tim Fosu-Mensah (thigh) and Amine Adli (achilles) to season-ending injuries.

Match stats

Asano is set to make his 50th Bundesliga appearance. He doubled his German top-flight goals tally with his first Bundesliga brace last time out.

Sebastian Polter is Bochum's eight-goal top scorer in 2021/22.

Only Mainz (eight) and Bayern Munich (12) have conceded fewer goals in home matches this Bundesliga season than Bochum (14).

Moussa Diaby is the Bundesliga's fourth best provider after 28 matchdays, with nine assists. He also has 12 goals.

Only Schick has scored more for Leverkusen in 2021/22 (20) - at a rate of one goal every 80 minutes.

Leverkusen are this season's second best away team (25 points), behind Bayern (32 points).

Probable line-ups

Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa, Masovic, Leitsch, Soares - Löwen, Losilla (c), Rexhbecaj - Asano, Polter, Holtmann

Out: Locadia (hip)

Doubtful: Antwi-Adjei (groin)

Coach: Thomas Reis

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

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

Doubtful: Azmoun (cold)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane

About the clubs VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena

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