Bayer Leverkusen vs Union berlin

BayArena is the venue as Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin go head-to-head in contrasting Bundesliga circumstances.

Xabi Alonso cannot catch a break as a Leverkusen manager. Since beating Schalke 4-0 on his touchline debut, the Spaniard has won none of his last six competitive games in charge (D3, L3), including a goalless home draw with Club Brugge in midweek Champions League action. A guaranteed place in the Europa League knockouts, courtesy of a third-place finish in Group B, is perhaps the only positive note in Alonso’s otherwise abysmal managerial stint. Back to the Bundesliga, where his men languish two points adrift of safety, Alonso will have to find a way to reignite Leverkusen’s faltering domestic start (W2, D3, L7). Berlin’s visit may throw ‘Die Werkself’ an unlikely lifeline, considering they’ve only lost one of their nine competitive H2Hs (W5, D3).

Unlike their hosts, Union Berlin head into proceedings in high spirits after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Royale Union SG in midweek Europa League action captured their place in the competition’s knockouts. A 2-1 defeat at early relegation candidates Bochum on their latest Bundesliga travel sparked doubts over their ability to maintain a stellar top-flight start (W8, D2, L2), yet ‘Die Eisernen’ silenced their critics last weekend. Despite finding themselves 1-0 down at halftime, Berlin pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 and re-establish control at the summit. But with Berlin’s last four away league games fluctuating between wins (2) and losses (2), it’s hard to predict which version of Urs Fischer’s side Leverkusen will take on.