The Africa Cup was seen as a potential stumbling block for Bayer 04, but it is now clear that either Edmond Tapsoba or Odilon Kossounou will be available to Leverkusen again for the summit clash with Bayern Munich – probably even both top central defenders.
On Monday and Tuesday, Bayer 04 officials will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of two round of 16 matches at the Africa Cup. Decisions could be made there that could have a significant impact on the summit clash with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on February 10.
If Côte d’Ivoire, who have been very disappointing so far, lose against top favorites Senegal, Odilon Kossounou should be able to train again in Leverkusen in the middle of the week – and would be a candidate for the starting eleven in Darmstadt on Saturday.
There is also a chance that Edmond Tapsoba will be eliminated with Burkina Faso on Tuesday against Mali, who finished first in Group E. That would mean that both partners of defensive boss Jonathan Tah, who missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Gladbach through yellow card suspension, would be ready for action again for Bayer 04.
Match schedule plays into Bayer’s hands
However, even if the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso were to prevail in their round of 16 matches, the schedule at the Africa Cup would certainly play into the hands of the Bundesliga leaders: Because then both Leverkusen central defenders would face each other directly in the quarter-finals on Saturday (kick-off 6pm).
This would mean that at least one of Leverkusen’s two key players would have to retire and could ideally be available for the DFB Cup quarter-final against VfB Stuttgart on February 6. Four days later in the summit clash with Munich anyway
If things go ideally for Bayer, the full back three that was missing against Gladbach could be back in action on Saturday in Darmstadt. And even if the tournament goes according to plan, there is much to suggest that Bayer will be able to line up against FC Bayern with their best defense, although the latter will probably have to do without central defender Min-Jae Kim.
The South Korean team, which will face Australia in the quarter-finals, are the tournament favorites along with Japan at the Asian Cup, the final of which will be played on the same day as the big showdown in the Bundesliga title fight.