Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayer Leverkusen: probable teams, match facts and LIVE blog!

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Götze was a second-half substitute and bagged a quick assist on Wednesday despite Frankfurt slipping to a 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner is expected to be restored to the starting XI, either alongside or replacing one of Jesper Lindstrom or Daichi Kamada. However, coach Oliver Glasner has said he will have to improvise in defence after Makoto Hasebe hobbled off in London. It could mean a full Bundesliga debut for 22-year-old Croatian Hrvoje Smolcic or another reshuffle. Randal Kolo Muani - the division's top provider - should also return after serving a domestic suspension. Regardless of who plays, the question is which Eintracht - once dubbed the 'Moody Diva' for its inconsistent displays - will we see? The one that ended league leaders Union Berlin's unbeaten start just a fortnight ago? Or the one that lost to previously winless bottom side Bochum last weekend?

A lack of consistency has also plagued Alonso's first week at the Leverkusen helm. The 4-0 win over Schalke last matchday was the biggest debut win by a Bayer coach in the Bundesliga, but it was followed on Wednesday by a 3-0 defeat at home to Porto that leaves their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. Moussa Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong were the stars of the show down the right against the Royal Blues in a fast-paced 3-4-3 formation, so expect a return to that approach after a change in tactics during the week. Iranian forward Sardar Azmoun is one of four key players still missing for Die Werkself.

Match stats

Götze made 47 appearances alongside Alonso at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2016. They've also faced each other seven times, winning three apiece.

Frankfurt's Lucas Alario scored 42 times in 126 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen and is their top-scoring substitute in the league with 10.

The home team has won the last nine Bundesliga meetings between these sides, including the most recent four in Frankfurt.

Alonso never lost in five Bundesliga meetings with Frankfurt as a player (W3, D2) and conceded only once in 405 minutes of action.

Frimpong is Leverkusen's top scorer with four goals split across two braces in the club's only league victories this season.

This fixture has never ended goalless in 74 Bundesliga editions. No other match-up has been played as often in the German top flight without a 0-0.

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Probable teams

Frankfurt: Trapp - Smolcic, Tuta, Ndicka - Jakic, Rode (c), Sow, Lenz - Lindström, Götze - Kolo Muani

Out: Buta (knee), Knauff (thigh)

Doubtful: Hasebe (knee), Onguene (groin), Pellegrini (shoulder), Toure (fitness)

Coach: Oliver Glasner

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Frimpong, Andrich, Aranguiz, Bakker - Diaby, Schick, Hudson-Odoi

Out: Azmoun (muscular), Bellarabi (knee), Palacios (hamstring), Wirtz (cruciate ligament)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Xabi Alonso

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park

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