Visiting Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will hope to reach the final of the DFB-Pokal by beating third tier outfit Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday at SchucoArena.
The hosts beat top-flight side Werder Bremen 2-1 in the quarter-final on February 25, while Leverkusen emerged as 3-2 victors in extra time against 2. Bundesliga club FC Koln on February 5.
Match preview
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Arminia Bielefeld rode their luck against Werder Bremen given they faced more than 1.5 xG and three big chances, while also relying on the woodwork, and they managed to score twice despite producing just three shots from inside the penalty area.
To the hosts’ credit, they have had to overcome three Bundesliga clubs in consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals, scoring seven and conceding just twice in those matches.
Head coach Michel Kniat‘s side are currently fourth in the third tier with 50 points from 30 games, and his team are only one point from third-placed Saarbrucken, who occupy the promotion playoff spot.
Arminia Bielefeld’s preparation for Tuesday’s game could not have gone much better given they have won seven of their past nine matches while losing just once.
The club are also unbeaten in five home fixtures – winning four – and have triumphed in four consecutive outings at SchucoArena in the DFB-Pokal.
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Leverkusen trailed 2-0 against FC Koln by the 54th minute, and had Patrik Schick not scored an equaliser in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, the reigning DFB-Pokal champions would have been eliminated.
The visitors’ clash against Arminia Bielefeld will be the fourth time in their five matches in the competition that they will have faced opposition from a lower division, though they did manage to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the round of 16 on December 3.
Die Schwarzroten are second in the Bundesliga with 59 points and are six points behind leaders Bayern with seven matchweeks remaining.
Xabi Alonso‘s side beat VfL Bochum 3-1 on Friday, and his team have scored seven goals in their past two games, though they failed to score in their prior three.
Leverkusen are on a two-game winning streak, but they lost their previous three outings while conceding on seven occasions.
Alonso’s team have been difficult to beat on the road, with the club winning seven, drawing two and losing just two of their last 11 away fixtures, with those two defeats occurring in the Champions League.
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Team News
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Arminia Bielefeld may field a similar starting XI to the side that beat Weder Bremen, and that makes centre-backs Leon Schneider and Joel Felix probable candidates to play ahead of goalkeeper Jonas Thomas Kersken.
Sam Schreck and Stefano Russo could partner each other in a double pivot, while striker Julian Kania may be supported by attacking midfielder Mael Corboz.
As for Leverkusen, they face the prospect of heading to SchucoArena with a depleted forward line given Martin Terrier and Nathan Tella are unavailable, while Florian Wirtz is also a doubt.
Alonso may be forced to field an attack featuring Amine Adli, Aleix Garcia and Schick ahead of midfielders Granit Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios.
Defenders Edmond Tapsoba, Mario Hermoso and Jeanuel Belocian have also been ruled out, and that makes Piero Hincapie, Jonathan Tah and Nordi Mukiele likely to appear in a back three.
Arminia Bielefeld possible starting lineup:
Kersken; Lannert, Schneider, Felix, Oppie; Schreck, Russo; Kunze, Corboz, Worl; Kania
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Garcia; Schick
We say: Arminia Bielefeld 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen will find it difficult to get overcome Arminia Bielefeld given the hosts have a proven track record against sides in the top flight.
However, the visitors’ have been rampant in the final third in the past games and their away record is strong, and it would be surprising if the champions failed to advance into the DFB-Pokal final against a side from the third tier.
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