Bayer Leverkusen don ready for final Bundesliga match against Hamburger SV, and dem still dey hope to catch Champions League spot. As dem dey sixth place, only victory fit give dem chance, but dem need Stuttgart and Hoffenheim to lose dia matches too.
Coach Kasper Hjulmand talk say, ‘E no finish yet. Our job clear: we must win. We don talk about am and prepare for am whole week. I dey 100% focused. Last matchday, anytin fit happen.’
Leverkusen get 4.9% chance to overtake, according to statistics. Since three-point rule start, only Borussia Dortmund for 1998/99 don do such comeback for final day.
Hamburger SV don already secure dia place for Bundesliga next season, so dem dey play for prestige. Dem fit still reach tenth position with win.
Leverkusen start season under Erik ten Hag, but dem sack am after two matches. Hjulmand take over. He say, ‘We try our best for good season. No forget: plenty changes, many new players. Seven key players leave, 15 new ones without Bundesliga experience come. E normal for tins no go smooth.’
Patrik Schick fit face HSV for first time for Bundesliga. He don score against all 25 clubs wey he face. For last seven matches, he score nine goals, more than any other player since matchday 27.
For HSV side, Luka Vuskovic, 19, don score six Bundesliga goals. Only Son Heung-min (eight) and Peter Lubeke (seven) score more as teenagers for Hamburg.
Leverkusen no lose against any promoted team for 19 matches, a club record. Only RB Leipzig get longer run (40). HSV win only one of dia last eight matches against Leverkusen.
For BayArena, Leverkusen don win six times consecutively against HSV. Only against Eintracht Frankfurt dem get longer home winning streak (11).
HSV don win dia last matchday for each of dia last four Bundesliga seasons (2014/15 to 2017/18). Only Union Berlin get longer run (six).
Referee Tobias Stieler go officiate. He don referee 34 Leverkusen matches, with 27 wins. For BayArena, Leverkusen lose only once for 19 matches under am.
Fan group Nordkurve12 revive dia ‘Finally Red’ campaign, calling fans to wear red for united support. Dis match be last one where Bayer Gastronomie dey provide food and drink after three decades.
Europa League spot don sure for Leverkusen, regardless of result. But Hjulmand and team still dey push for Champions League.
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