On Sunday afternoon, Hertha Berlin host Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympiastadion, in a Bundesliga clash that could prove vital for both teams ambitions this season.

HERTHA BERLIN

The struggle continues for Hertha Berlin who suffered a 2-0 defeat at Dortmund last time out. The defeat means that the team from the German capital are in the relegation play-off spot and only outside the actual drop zone courtesy of superior goal difference to 17th place Mainz. The defeat against BVB means that Hertha have now lost seven of their last nine matches in the Bundesliga.

The Olympiastadion has offered little by the way of home comforts of late for the strugglers, as they have lost four of their last five home games in the Bundesliga. However, there was one slight sliver of hope in a 2-1 win over Augsburg in their last home game in the German top-flight.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Peter Bosz’s team continue to flatter to deceive in the Bundesliga after a 2-1 home defeat by struggling Arminia Bielefeld last time out. The defeat means that Bayer have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions while losing three of their last four matches. The recent poor run of league form has seen the visitors fall four points adrift of the Champions League spots.

Leverkusen were superb on their travels early in the season. However, they head to the German capital on the back of just one win in five away games in the Bundesliga. They have shown slight signs of recover on their travels of late by taking four points from a possible six in their last two matches on the road in the German top-flight.

Team News

Hertha Berlin are without the suspended Vladimir Darida, while they could also be without Sami Khedira, Matteo Guendouzi, Dedryck Boyata, Matheus Cunha and Santiago Ascacibar through injury.

Bayer Leverkusen have some personnel problems of their own. Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Santiago Arias, Julian Baumgartlinger, Paulinho, Daley Sinkgraven, Lars Bender and Lukas Hradecky all look set to miss out due to various injuries.