Team updated.

Match details:

RW Essen vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen
DFB Pokal
Stadion Essen, Germany
2^nd February, 11 PM

Preview:

RW Essen will host Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in tonight’s DFB Pokal 3^rd round fixture.

RW Essen who ply their trade in Regionalliga West 4^th tier of German football are at 2^nd place with 54 points from 22 games. They are yet to lose a match this season which is an exceptional achievement for a tier 4 side. They have already defeated Fortuna Dusseldorf and Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Pokal.

Bayer Leverkusen can use this opportunity to come back to winning ways after 2 back to back losses against RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg in Bundesliga. They came on top against Eintracht Frankfurt in the last round of DFB Pokal.

We expect Bayer Leverkusen to progress to the next round but Essen could make things difficult for them.

Match prediction: RW Essen 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Unavailable:

RW Essen: Sauerland

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Amiri, Arias, Baumgartlinger, Paulinho, Tah, Weiser

Probable starting XI:

RW Essen: Davari; Plechaty, Heber, Grote, A. Hahn, Grund; Harenbrock, Kehl; Gomez; Young, Engelmann, Kefkir

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky; Frimpong, Fosu-Mensah, Dragovic, Wendell; Aranguiz; Demirbay, Wirtz; Bellarabi, Alario, Bailey.

Top picks:

Alario: The Argentine has simply been exceptional this season scoring 12 goals in all competitions. He has scored in both the DFB Pokal matches this season.

Bailey: Bailey could be a great asset for your team in this contest. The speedy winger has gone blank for some matches now and could get on the scoresheet against Tier 4 opponents.

Wirtz: The 17-year-old has bagged 6 goals and 5 assist this term and could a very good differential choice for this match.

Captaincy options:

1. Alario

2. Bailey

3. Wirtz

4. Engelmann

Dream11 team for Small League combination (updated):

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.