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

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Hoffenheim come into the penultimate weekend knowing their European aspirations hang in the balance. Sitting eighth at the start of the matchday, five points off seventh and six behind sixth, Sebastian Hoeneß's side must claim all three points and hope Union Berlin fail to win and/or Cologne lose. Should results go their way, it will make for a fascinating final day, given all three also have very similar goal differences. Hoffenheim netted three last time out but were still edged 4-3 at home by Freiburg. Andrej Kramaric got the first of those. Angelo Stiller and Sebastian Rudy got the second and third respectively and are rivals for a midfield berth, although the younger of the two is expected to retain his spot. David Raum provides plenty of chances down the left, but he won't have Chris Richards covering behind him. The Bayern Munich-owned American's season is over due to a thigh injury.

Things are anything but over for Leverkusen. They ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday, with Schick adding to Paulinho's first-half strike in a blossoming front two alongside January signing Azmoun. The Iranian was the pivot in that game, allowing speedster Moussa Diaby to get in behind and set up both goals. Florian Wirtz remains among the long-term absentees at the BayArena, while Kerem Demirbay is racing to overcome a foot issue to face his former club. His current employers will confirm their place in the Champions League for the first time since 2019/20 if they win. They could still book their spot in defeat, but that depends on results elsewhere.

Match stats

Raum is second in the division for crosses from open play (179 - Filip Kostic leads on 180), but tied top with the Frankfurt man for goals as a result of his deliveries (both eight).

Hoffenheim have struck the woodwork 17 times this season - only Bayern have been denied more times (18).

TSG only have a worse win rate at home to Bayern than against Leverkusen among teams they have hosted more than twice in the Bundesliga.

Schick is on 22 goals for the campaign - a total twice achieved in Leverkusen colours by Ulf Kirsten. The club record is 25 by Stefan Kießling in 2012/13.

Diaby has joined compatriot Christopher Nkunku as the only Bundesliga players with double digits for both goals and assists this season (12 and 11; Nkunku: 18 and 13).

Bayer have scored 74 times in the league in 2021/22, three short of their season record.

Probable teams

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Akpoguma, Vogt, Posch - Kaderabek, Samassekou, Stiller, Raum - Kramaric, Baumgartner - Bebou

Out: Hübner (back), John (shoulder), Nordtveit (hamstring), Richards (thigh)

Doubtful: Bicakcic (knee), Geiger (shin), Grillitsch (muscular)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Diaby, Andrich, Aranguiz, Paulinho - Azmoun, Schick

Out: Adli (Achilles), Bellarabi (thigh), Fosu-Mensah (thigh), Frimpong (ankle), Sertdemir (groin), Wirtz (knee)

Doubtful: Demirbay (foot)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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TSG Hoffenheim

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