Will John Brooks have to face Patrik Schick when Wolfsburg host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (kick-off: 5.30pm CET)?
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United States internationals Brooks and Wolfsburg have the most steady ship of late, bouncing back from a nine-game league winless streak to claim victory in three of the last six. However, Wolves were thrashed 3-2 last weekend at Freiburg, despite drawing two goals. Max Kruse scored his second goal for Wolfsburg to kick off the potential comeback, before Maxi Arnold – wearing the captain’s armband in Koen Casteels’ absence – briefly restored parity. The midfielder will likely lead the team to the Volkswagen Arena again with the skipper still struggling with a hip injury. That means Pavao Pervan should continue in goal as Wolves look to continue their climb away from danger down below.
A calf injury means Schick hasn’t played in the Bundesliga since mid-February. The Czech striker, who is second behind Robert Lewandowski in goals in Germany’s top flight this season, missed the 3-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld, the 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich and the 1-0 defeat of the last weekend against Cologne. The latter was a bad day for Leverkusen. In addition to local bragging rights, Die Werkself also lost Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to injury for the remainder of the season. With Schick only just back in training and unlikely to play before the international break, coach Gerardo Seoane really needs to rely on his squad’s strength in depth as they seek to defend their one-point advantage over fourth place. Otherwise, and other results also go against them, Bayer could drop from third to sixth place by the end of the weekend.
Look: Schick’s 20 Bundesliga goals this season
Match statistics
- Schick has scored 20 goals in as many league appearances this season, scoring one every 78 minutes – the same minutes-to-goal ratio as Lewandowski.
- Wirtz is second best in the current Bundesliga season for assists (10), after Thomas Müller (16). Leverkusen’s second-best provider is Moussa Diaby (seven).
- Going into Matchday 27, Leverkusen have produced the second-fewest number of crosses this season, but boast the best crosses-to-goal ratio in the division (one goal for every 22 shots).
- Kruse is set to make his 50th competitive appearance as a Wolfsburg player. He registered 11 goals and 12 assists during his two spells at the club.
- Wolfsburg are the second worst team in the penalty shootout department. Leverkusen is second best.
- The home side haven’t won any of the last 11 Bundesliga meetings between the sides (three draws, eight away wins).
The probable compositions
Wolfsburg: Pervan – Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks – Baku, Schlager, Arnold (c), Roussillon – Kruse, L. Nmecha – Wind
Outside: Casteels (hip), Otavio (knee), Philipp (sick), Van de Ven (thigh), William (knee)
Doubtful: Steffen (sick)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Fosu-Mensah, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker – Andrich, Aranguiz – Diaby, Demirbay, Adli – Alario
Outside: Frimpong (ankle), Lunev (ankle), Schick (calf), Wirtz (knee)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Gerard Seoane
