HSV v Leverkusen: Downs and Philippe start up front | OneFootball

HSV faces Bayer Leverkusen in the rescheduled match of the 17th Bundesliga matchday. We bring you the lineups for the duel at the Volksparkstadion.

The encounter with the Werkself was originally scheduled to take place on January 13. However, due to weather conditions, the final match of the first half of the season had to be canceled about two and a half hours before kickoff. Because of Leverkusen’s tightly packed schedule, including numerous midweek fixtures, the rescheduled match is now taking place with a delay of one and a half months.

For the Red Shorts, it’s their second home game in three days. Just on Sunday, they suffered a deserved 1-2 defeat against RB Leipzig. Especially in the second half, the promoted team showed their weakest performance of recent weeks. The goal is clear: against the sixth-placed Rhinelanders, a reaction is needed!

Photo: Getty Images

HSV: Starting XI return for Philippe

In front of regular keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Merlin Polzin is forced to make a change. Warmed Omari stands in for the injured Nicolas Capaldo and takes over the right position in central defense. Alongside Luka Vuskovic, Daniel Elfadli is also on the pitch. The defensive all-rounder replaces Jordan Torunarigha. In the absence of the yellow-card suspended Miro Muheim, the flanks are covered by Giorgi Gocholeishvilli and Bakery Jatta.

Nur die Raute – All the latest HSV news

In central midfield, Nicolai Remberg and Fabio Vieira start as usual. Sambi Lokonga, who made his comeback against RB Leipzig after several weeks out with injury, is on the bench and is expected to be used as a substitute during the match.

Up front, HSV relies on Ransford Königsdörffer and Damion Downs alongside Rayan Philippe. The Frenchman was last in the starting lineup on December 20 against Eintracht Frankfurt (1:1). Not in the squad, however, are Philip Otele and Yussuf Poulsen. Both are missing from the matchday squad against Leverkusen.

The lineups at a glance:

HSV: Heuer Fernandes, Gocholeishvilli, Omari, Vuskovic, Elfadli, Jatta, Remberg, Vieira, Philippe, Downs, Königsdörffer

Leverkusen: Blaswich, Culbreath, Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba, Grimaldo, Garcia, Palacios, Maza, Terrier, Kofane

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.