LEVERKUSEN - Coach Michael Skibbe has hit out at the limited preparation time Bayer Leverkusen have ahead of their Bundesliga showdown with Schalke.
Both teams, who are locked on 35 points in the table, were involved in European competition this week. Schalke edged Porto 1-0 in the Champions League and Leverkusen hammered Galatasaray 5-1 in the UEFA Cup.
However, while the Royal Blues had four days to rest ahead of this weekend's clash, Bayer were left with just 44 hours to prepare.
"We get punished for playing internationally," Skibbe said. "That is unfair competition. One cannot speak of having equal opportunities here."
Schalke coach Mirko Slomka has already admitted he will try to take advantage of Leverkusen´s physical exhaustion.
"We have to keep them moving and hope they will get tired," he said. "They have not had as much time to recover as we did. That´s something we will be trying to exploit."
Christian Pander (personal reasons), Zlatan Bajramovic (toe) and Markus Heppke (shoulder) are sidelined for the hosts, while Bayer are likely to welcome back goalkeeper Rene Adler.
The youngster sat out their UEFA Cup win due to thigh problems, while Benedikt Fernandez ready to step in if Adler fails a fitness test.
Fifth-placed Schalke are looking to leapfrog their opponents as they battle for a Champions League berth.
And defender Heiko Westermann believes opponents Leverkusen are most vulnerable at the back.
"They have some weaknesses in their defence," he told Kicker magazine.
"It must be our ambition to put some distance between us and them. If you win the first leg of a last-16 meeting in the Champions League, you should arrive with a lot of confidence."
