(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Bayer Leverkusen look to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 13 points when they host Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon.
Second-placed Bayern Munich don't play until later in the day when they host Borussia Dortmund, possibly allowing Leverkusen to gain another three points on their title rivals before Der Klassiker kicks off.
Xabi Alonso's side have been in scintilating form all season, avergaing 2.69 points per game home and away in the league (W11, D2, L0). Leverkusen are still going strong on all fronts in both the Europa League and DFB Pokal, and are yet to taste defeat in any competition this term.
They have the second-highest goal tally in the division on 66, which is only bettered by Bayern Munich's 78. An already impressive expected goal (xG) tally of 2.01 has been bettered by an average of 2.54 goals scored per match. This rises to 2.77 in home games, where their xG sits at 2.25 after 13 matches.
Leverkusen's defensive statistics also make for positive reading; just seven goals conceded at home is the division's best, equating to an average of just 0.54 per match. This again exceeds an expected goal against (xGA) tally of 0.8. They've also kept clean sheets in 54% of home matches, including three in their last five.
The visitors come into this one with the sixth best away form in the league, but overall their season has been riddled with inconsistency. Hoffenheim have only won two of the ten games they’ve played in 2024, and have lost six of their last nine on the road.
Nevertheless, their 46% win ratio in away matches betters their 35% at home. They have shipped three goals in each of their last two away losses though, and on average have conceded two goals per game on their travels this term.
Hoffenheim haven't recorded a clean sheet in 22 matches, and have kept opposition attackers out in just 8% of away games so far. This is still better than their home record though, where they are yet to record a single clean sheet this season.
Leverkusen head into the match with an average of 3.31 total goals in home games this year which, coupled with Hoffenheim's average of 3.92 total goals in away matches, suggests plenty of scoring action can be expected this weekend.
Add the away side's record of conceding three or more goals in 38% of their games on the road, it's hard to see anything other than a high-scoring encounter between these two.
Both teams' corner statistics also suggest plenty of set-piece action lies in wait on Saturday afternoon. Leverkusen have averaged 10.85 in home games, while Hoffenheim have averaged 10.54 in away matches.