Bongarts
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
BAYER LEVERKUSEN  Leno Castro, Freidrich, Reinartz, Kadlec Bender, Rolfes Sam, Ballack, Schurrle Derdiyok | HOFFENHEIM  Starke Beck, Vorsah, Compper, Braafheid Williams, Rudy, Salihovic Mlapa, Ibisevic, Babel |
Tranquillo Barnetta and Rene Adler are still out following knee surgery and are not expected back until January. Omer Toprak is also out, having fell awkwardly on his pelvis in Saturday's game against Hertha and could be out for up to two weeks. Stefan Reinartz should take his place at centre-back.
On a more positive note, striker Eren Derdiyok's stunning form of late should see him keep his place in the starting XI for the hosts.
Chinedu Obasi and Roberto Firmino have been dropped from the squad after showing up late for training. Club general manager Ernst Tanner and coach Holger Stanislawski have agreed to suspend the pair, as this is said to be the latest offence in a long list from the duo.
Two talented players down, and still looking for his preferred formation, Stanislawski's only good news is that skipper Andreas Beck will return to action after serving his cumulative yellow card suspension.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Suspended Roberto Firmino is Hoffenheim's top scorer with five goals, on par with Bayer's in-form striker Eren Derdiyok.
- Despite being purchased as a defensive player, USA international Fabian Johnson's attacking eye has seen him rack up an impressive five assists for his new club.
- Both Hanno Balitch and Michael Ballack have four yellow cards going into Friday's clash. One more for either player will see them suspended for their following match.
- Hoffenheim's last win was over a month ago, a 2-1 home win in the DFB Pokal against Koln. More worryingly, Stanislawski's men have lost their last four away games in the Bundesliga.
- Bayer Leverkusen have never lost to Hoffenheim since the Sinsheim club's arrival in the Bundesliga three years ago.
Prediction
Bayer need a solid win to get some momentum going and keep their heads above the rest of the Bundesliga pack that are chasing a place in Europe - what better place to it than at the BayArena, and what better team to do it against than an ailing Hoffenheim side?
Editor's Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Hoffenheim 
