Nordi Mukiele could make his debut for Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday | OneFootball

kicker reports that Nordi Mukiele and Robert Andrich could both start for Bayer Leverkusen against Hoffenheim on Saturday.

With the Champions League beginning next week and Leverkusen facing a trip to the Netherlands to play Feyenoord in their opening game, rotation will now be key for all teams competing in Europe.

Mukiele, although he is lacking in match fitness, could start for Leverkusen against Hoffenheim this weekend as either Edmond Tapsoba or PIero Hincapié are rested ahead of the trip to Rotterdam in midweek.

While Andrich is also likely to return to the starting 11 and will replace Aleix Garcia in midfield, with Exequiel Palacios still recovering from a knee injury.

Stylistically, this also makes sense as in the game against RB Leipzig just before the international break, the partnership of Garcia and Granit Xhaka in midfield seemed off as the two are too similar in their styles of play. Against weaker opposition that are more likely to sit deep and defend this partnership would probably be more successful.

GGFN | Jack Meenan