The hosts are in 11th place, while the visitors are one place above them, 14 points ahead of their opponents. Bayer are in the hunt for a Champions League spot and are in excellent form: they advanced to the Champions League round of 16, but are still six points behind the top four in the Bundesliga, with a game in hand.
Hamburg had a decent run in the league, but are currently in a slump again. Hamburg have lost only three of their 12 home matches, but head-to-head encounters with Bayer have always been disappointing.
Given the visitors' competitive drive, their solid defensive play, and Hamburg's struggles against top opponents, a Bayer victory seems the most likely outcome. The Leverkusen team has a more balanced squad and is capable of controlling away games.
