Champions League qualifiers Bayer Leverkusen will make the short journey South when they take on third division side SV Elversberg on Saturday afternoon.

With a place in the second round of the DFB Pokal up for grabs, Leverkusen are heavy favourites to progress to the next stage of the competition.

Match preview

Bayer Leverkusen's Lucas Alario celebrates scoring their first goal on April 2, 2022 © Reuters

After an impressive 2021-22 campaign that saw Leverkusen finish third, Die Werkself earned qualification for this season's Champions League group stage.

However, before the group stage rolls around in early September, Leverkusen's attention will switch to another tournament instead.

Having once won the Pokal all the way back in 1993, Leverkusen will be desperate to replicate that run this season, such has been the lack of success for Die Werkself in recent years.

They triumphed over lower-league opposition in the first round of their successful 1992-93 Pokal run, and Leverkusen are set to face off against another minnow in round one this weekend.

Such is the complexity of Germany's domestic cup competition, only the top two divisions, along with four teams from the third tier are guaranteed qualification for the Pokal.

The rest of the teams involved come from the winners of Germany's regional cup competitions, with Elversberg among one of those lucky entrants.

Winners of the Saarland Cup – the cup competition for teams in the Rhineland-Palatinate region – Elversberg have qualified for the Pokal for just the ninth time in their history.

Granted, four of those nine appearances have come in the last five seasons, with Elversberg having carved out a name for themselves in the Pokal.

In 2018-19, Elversberg shocked the nation when they triumphed over St. Pauli to progress into the Pokal's second round.

Similarly close to knocking out higher opposition last season, Elversberg were knocked out by FSV Mainz 05, following a 10-9 penalty shootout defeat.

Leverkusen will have to have their wits about them if they wish to continue their journey in this season's Pokal.

Elversberg form (all competitions):

Team News

Bayer Leverkusen's Charles Aranguiz celebrates scoring their first goal with Jonathan Tah, Moussa Diaby, Edmond Tapsoba and teammates on March 10, 2022 © Reuters

An Achilles tendon injury will mean Amine Adli misses the beginning of the campaign, but Leverkusen are confident that their man will be back before the end of August.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for promising midfielder Florian Wirtz, who is nursing an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will likely be out until November at the earliest.

There could be a first competitive start for new arrival Adam Hlozek, who arrived from Sparta Prague in the summer transfer window.

Luca Schnellbacher was on fine form for Elversberg in their season opener against Rot-Weiss Essen, netting twice in a 5-1 win.

He will be joined in attack by Kevin Koffi, who also netted twice in last weekend's victory.

Elversberg possible starting lineup:
Kristof; Fellhauer, Correia, Conrad, Neubauer; Jacobsen, Sickinger; Feil, Rochelt, Schnellbacher; Koffi

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tah, Bakker, Frimpong, Hincapie; Aranguiz, Andrich, Diaby; Schick, Azmoun, Hlozek

SM words green background

We say: Elversberg 1-4 Bayer Leverkusen

It is hard to see a world in which Leverkusen do not come out from this fixture with a place in the Pokal second round.

Expect a comfortable victory for Leverkusen, despite Elversberg's notoriety as Pokal giant-killers in the past.
-

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.