Bayer Leverkusen host Hoffenheim at the BayArena on Saturday afternoon as they look to move 13 points clear of Bayern Munich, who entertain Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga Topspiel in the evening.
Xabi Alonso, who announced in his press conference that he would remain head coach of Bayer Leverkusen next season, confirmed that their game against Hoffenheim would come too soon for Exequiel Palacios and Victor Boniface, but the duo could return in the DFB Pokal. That means a midfield duo of Robert Andrich and Granit Xhaka while Patrik Schick, who has scored four goals in his last four games, will start in attack with Jonas Hofmann and Florian Wirtz playing in the half-spaces.
Josip Stanisic and Piero Hincapié are also options in a three-man defence for Alonso, while Edmond Tapsoba will serve a one-game suspension upon accumulating his fifth yellow card, as will Xhaka. According to Kicker, both Amine Adli and Nathan Tella are also alternatives to Hofmann and Jeremie Frimpong.
Predicted Bayer Leverkusen XI vs Hoffenheim
Lukas Hradecky – Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba – Jeremie Frimpong, Robert Andrich, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo – Jonas Hofmann, Florian Wirtz – Patrik Schick
