Problem for Schick? Leverkusen top scorer Boniface returns. He will definitely play, promises Xabi Alonso

Leverkusen will face Düsseldorf in the semi-finals of the domestic cup on Wednesday evening. The goal is clear – to reach the final and win the cup. The good news for coach Xabi Alonso is that Victor Boniface returns to the line-up.

He has been missing since the beginning of this calendar year, but is now back in the line-up. Victor Boniface has been a very important player for Leverkusen, especially in the autumn phase of the current competition, netting 10 goals in 16 league games.

He has displaced Patrik Schick from the starting line-up as a top striker, but his performances in recent matches have also earned him a place in the starting eleven. The Czech striker, for example, was instrumental in the recent win over Hoffenheim.

It should be added, Boniface scored four more goals in the Europa League. He then scored two goals in two matches in the domestic cup.

Leverkusen made it through to the semi-finals against four opponents – Ottensen (8:0), Sandhausen (5:2), Paderborn (3:1) and Stuttgart (3:2).

Bayer will face Düsseldorf in the semi-finals, with the clear goal of reaching the final and then winning. This would give Leverkusen a double with the title.

“We need the support of our fans to take advantage of this big opportunity tomorrow. We feel their enthusiasm. You can feel it in the air. The fans want to go to Berlin and so do we. We will give it our all,” said Xabi Alonso at the pre-match press conference.

Boniface, who is still the team’s top scorer with 16 goals despite a long absence, will help Leverkusen to do just that. Behind him are a quartet of players with 11 shots – Jeremie Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo, Florian Wirtz and Schick.

“Boni is in the matchday squad. I don’t know how long he can play. Definitely not 90 minutes, maybe not even 45, but he could do half an hour. He’s had a great rehabilitation and he’s mentally strong. He can’t wait to get on the pitch again,” said the Bayer coach.

Source: DFB Pokal, Bayer Leverkusen