Advantage Bayer A 1-0 lead from the first leg and an impressive 2-0 win over Hannover at the weekend has given Bayer Leverkusen a great deal of self-confidence ahead of their trip North to face Hamburg in the second leg of this Uefa Cup tie.
Michael Skibbe’s side have put themselves in the driving seat with the 1-0 victory achieved last week at the Bay-Arena. They also believe that the omens are on their side as they beat fellow German side Werder Bremen on the way to lifting the trophy 20 years ago.
Omens or no omens the form shown by the Werkself this season on their travels is enough to have them confident of achieving the minimum result of a draw they need.
In the Bundesliga, they have achieved positive results against the likes of Schalke, Hannover and Wolfsburg away from home, although they did lose the league game at the HSH Nordbank Arena against HSV back in August thanks to a penalty from Rafael van der Vaart.
FORM GUIDE
Hamburg
Match Result Date Championship
Nürnberg - Hamburg 0 - 0 09/03/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayer Leverkusen - Hamburg 1 - 0 06/03/2008 UEFA CUP
Hamburg - Eintracht 4 - 1 02/03/2008 BUNDESLIGA
VfL Wolfsburg - Hamburg 2 - 1 27/02/2008 DFB-POKAL
Bayern Munich - Hamburg 1 - 1 24/02/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Hamburg - Zurich 0 - 0 21/02/2008 UEFA CUP
Bayer Leverkusen
Match Result Date Championship
Bayer Leverkusen - Hannover 96 2 - 0 09/03/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayer Leverkusen - Hamburg 1 - 0 06/03/2008 UEFA CUP
VfL Bochum - Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 02/03/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayer Leverkusen - Schalke 04 1 - 0 23/02/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayer Leverkusen - Galatasaray 5 - 1 21/02/2008 UEFA CUP
Karlsruher SC - Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 2 16/02/2008 BUNDESLIGA
TEAM NEWS
Hamburg Huub Stevens will be without the services of both Nigel de Jong and Vincent Kompany as the pair picked up their third bookings in the first leg.
Guy Demel is a doubt with a hamstring strain, but it is hoped he will be fit to make the game. The defensive all-rounder was forced to sit out of the weekend draw with Nürnberg.
Mohamed Zidan was also forced out of the weekend action, but is also expected to be able to return to the squad on Wednesday. Colin Benjamin is unavailable after flying home to Namibia for his father’s funeral.
Probable starting XI: Rost, Boateng, Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Brecko, Demel, Jarolim, van der Vaart, Trochowski, Guerrero, Olic
Bayer Leverkusen
"There are no injuries and even the players who have taken knocks are fit" reported trainer Michael Skibbe on Tuesday. That means Hans Sarpei will be fit to return to the starting XI and Sergej Barbarez is likely to support Stefan Kießling up front.
Another option would be for Arturo Vidal to drop down to the bench and Theofanis Gekas playing as a second striker.
Probable starting XI: Adler, Castro, Haggui, Friedrich, Sarpei, Vidal, Rolfes, Schneider, Barbarez, Barnetta, Kießling
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hamburg- Rafael van der Vaart
Van der Vaart is Hamburg’s go to guy in situations like this. The Dutch midfield maestro has the talent to turn this game in HSV’s favour and his free kick and corner delivery will be a key to unlocking a tight Leverkusen defence. He too would desperately want to get his hands on some silverware before leaving the club in the summer.
Bayer Leverkusen- Tranquillo Barnetta
The Swiss youngster is fast becoming an irreplaceable part in Michael Skibbe’s well-oiled machine. Recent weeks have seen his personal impact on games increase with his vision and his assists. More of the same against Hamburg would go a long way to seeing Bayer through to the quarter-finals.
Prediction
Hamburg SV will going to Final of UEFA Cup.
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