Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez. (Photo : Getty Images)
A high-profile matchup between the 2015-2016 Bundesliga season's current third and fourth-placed teams, Bayer 04 Leverkusen (16-9-6, 54 points) and Hertha Berlin SC (14-10-7, 49 points), is scheduled to be held this Saturday, April 30th at the former's BayArena as the current season winds down to its final three matchdays.
The contest will be a crucial one as its result will have implications with regards to the teams that will represent the German top flight in the UEFA Champions League competitions next season.
Bayer Leverkusen is currently at the third spot of the league table, a far 20 points behind second-running team Borussia Dortmund but only five points ahead of Hertha Berlin, who is temporarily at fourth place.
Hertha is only one point above fifth-placed squad Borussia Monchengladbach, who will clash with league leaders Bayern Munich in this same matchday, and could be in danger of losing their Champions League qualifying berth if they can't pull off a win versus Bayer.
The top three squads at the end of the season will automatically advance in the group stage of the Europe's premier club continental competitions while the fourth-placed team will qualify in the playoff round of the same.
The fifth to seventh-placed squads will enter the Europa League competitions for next season.
Bayer pulled off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over seventh-placed FC Schalke at the Veltins Arena last Saturday, as reported by ESPN.
Schalke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Leroy Sane scored the first two goals of the contest at the 14th and 29th minutes to give the hosts a two-point advantage at the half.
However, Roger Schmidt's boys unleashed three goals in the second half to erase the lead, courtesy of Julian Brandt, Karim Bellarabi, and Javier Hernandez at the 54th, 56th, and 60th minutes respectively, en route to the improbable win.
Meanwhile, Hertha dropped a 0-2 game to the Bavarians also last Saturday at the Olympiastadion, as per BBC Sport.
Arturo Vidal and Douglas Costa scored the two goals for the defending champions while head coach Pál Dárdai's side were unable to respond.
The predicted result is a close 2-1 decision for Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayer Leverkusen starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Leno; Jedvaj, Tah, Toprak, Wendell; Bender, Aranguiz; Bellarabi, Kampl, Brandt; Hernandez
Hertha Berlin starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Kraft; Pekarik, Langkamp, Lustenberger, Plattenhardt; Stark; Mittelstadt, Weiser, Cigerci, Stocker; Ibisevic
