Matchday news #B04HSV: Finally Red in last chance for Champions League qualification

Finally Red

As in recent years, the Nordkurve12 fan group has revived its Finally Red campaign for the last home games of the season. It calls for fans to come to the BayArena in red to show united support for the team.

Change of caterer means discounts

This game will be the last where food and drink is provided by Bayer Gastronomie after three decades. The caterer has discounted almost all products by €1.50 to say thank you to fans.

#B04HSV: Match facts

It’s been over eight years since HSV last came to the BayArena, when a Kevin Volland brace helped the Werkself to a 3-0 win and a sixth victory in a row at home to the northern club. Leverkusen are only on a longer winning run against Eintracht Frankfurt among current top-flight opponents.

Christian Kofane’s goal was the difference in a 1-0 Werkself win at the Volksparkstadion in the reverse fixture in March, after January’s original meeting was postponed due to heavy snow in Hamburg. Patrik Schick didn’t feature that day but could now face HSV for the first time in his career. He’s scored against all 25 clubs he’s appeared against in the Bundesliga so far. He and the team know they need to win on Saturday and hope that both VfB Stuttgart and Hoffenheim lose their respective away fixtures at Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach to climb up to fourth and qualify for the Champions League.

Focus on Hamburg

A 2-1 win in Frankfurt a fortnight ago ensured Merlin Polzin’s side will enjoy a second season back in the Bundesliga after their long-awaited return. They followed that up with a 3-2 victory at home to Freiburg, meaning HSV come to Leverkusen with no pressure in what is expected to be a final outing for key players Luka Vuskovic and Fabio Vieira. The defender and attacking midfielder have both come up with crucial goals this season. Find out more about Hamburg’s strengths and weaknesses in our opposition profile.

Stieler in charge

Tobias Stieler will oversee this final game of the season. He’s previously taken charge of 34 Werkself fixtures, producing 27 wins. Out of 19 matches under the 44-year-old at the BayArena, Leverkusen have lost only once. His assistants are Mark Borsch and Lasse Koslowski. Matthias Jöllenbeck is the VAR.