Preview - Hertha BSC vs Bayer Leverkusen 18 May 19

[Harry85]

Match Day 34
Hertha BSC vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Saturday, May 18th 2019
22:30pm (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Olympiastadion Berlin

Hertha BSC: 
Last five matches form: L D D W W
Average goals per match: 1.45
Average goals against per match: 1.58
Top Scorer: Ondrej Duda (11)

Bayer Leverkusen:
Last five matches form: W W W W D
Average goals per match: 1.94
Average goals against per match: 1.55
Top Scorer: Kai Havertz (16)


Three of the Champion's League positions have been decided as we head into the final day of the Bundesliga season, but the fourth is still up for grabs. Any of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen or Eintracht Frankfurt could yet make it, and Leverkusen will be looking to maximise their chances with a win in this one as they head to tenth placed Hertha BSC.


Leverkusen came out on top with a 3-1 win in the reverse of this fixture. Hertha picked up the points courtesy of a 2-1 success in the game here last season.


Rune Jarstein, Mathew Leckie, Arne Maier, Vladimir Darida, Palkó Dárdal and Marius Gersbeck all miss out for the home side. Karim Bellarabi, Joel Pohjanpalo and Leon Bailey are out for Leverkusen.


Much like their form overall, Hertha's results at home have been decidedly mixed with six wins in 15. With very little at stake in this one though they should at least be able to relax and play their football, which should lead to an open game.


Leverkusen have been in solid form on the road of late with six wins in their past eight. They have scored two or more in six of those eight games, but have also conceded two or more in three of their last five.


A draw may be enough for Leverkusen here, but they can't rely on that and be expected to play on the front foot as is their style. We will take an away win and a few goals in this one.





Prediction: Hertha BSC 2 - 4 Bayer Leverkusen

[Harry85]

Half time: 1 - 2
Full time: 1 - 5
Shots:  9 - 13
Shots on target: 4 - 8
Corner Kicks: 4 - 3
Possession: 36% - 64%

One booking for each side at the Olympiastadion, with referee Marco Fritz taking the names of Ondrej Duda of Hertha and Kevin Volland of Leverkusen.


With the way the other results went, a draw would have been enough for Leverkusen in the end. They weren't about to take any chances though and came out firing on all cylinders here. Hertha simply couldn't live with them.


The visitors opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Jonathan Tah picking out Kai Havertz over the top down the right. Havertz racing into the area and finishing emphatically on the volley to beat the keeper at the near post from the right corner of the six yards box.


Six minutes later Hertha drew level. Vedad Ibisevic doing well to send over a cross from the left by-line. His ball finding Ondrej Duda beyond the far post. Duda lashing a low effort at goal and Valentino Lazaro turning in from almost on the line.


It took Leverkusen only four minutes to regain the lead. Wendell splitting the defence to play in Lucas Alairo in the left of the area. Alario doing well to stick out a boot and prod home into the bottom right as he was bundled over. 1-2 at the break,


Nine minutes into the second half Leverkusen had some breathing space. Charles Aranguiz played in down the right and cutting the ball back to Julian Brandt just outside the eighteen-yard area to the right. Fine finish from Brandt, meeting the ball in stride to find the top left corner.


The fourth arrived in the 72nd minute. A cross from the right making its way to Kevin Volland in the left corner of the eighteen-yard box. Volland scuffed his effort but straight to Alario who the mis-controlled at the far post and nodded home from a yard or so.


Two minutes from time Alario grabbed his hattrick. Lars Bender in space in the right of the area and cutting back for Alario to finish into the bottom left. 1-5 final score.


A successful season for Leverkusen sees them finish in that all important fourth Champion's League qualifying spot. Hertha end the season in eleventh.