Bayer Leverkusen will face Villarreal at the BayArena in a crucial match of the Champions League. Both teams are seeking vital points to keep their hopes of advancing alive. Leverkusen aims to secure qualification while Villarreal struggles with the possibility of elimination.
Match Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal
Bayer Leverkusen enters this fixture following a recent 1-0 victory against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. This win helped stabilize the team’s morale after a challenging run. In the Champions League, however, their performance has been underwhelming. With only two wins, three draws, and two defeats from seven matches, the German side sits at 20th in the expanded table, collecting just nine points.
Leverkusen’s Recent Form
At the BayArena, Leverkusen has struggled. They have yet to win a Champions League home game, registering two draws and one loss so far. The team’s last match in the competition ended in a 2-0 loss against Olympiacos Piraeus. Their overall record shows they have scored 10 goals but conceded 14, resulting in a negative goal difference of four.
Villarreal’s Dire Situation
Villarreal arrives in Germany with just one point from their seven Champions League games, placing them 35th in the standings. Their campaign has been marred by six defeats and a single draw. Their recent match ended with a 2-1 defeat at home against Ajax, further complicating their road to qualification. The team remains without a win in their last 10 Champions League matches.
Team News and Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen will be missing several players for this matchup. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken and defender Edmond Tapsoba are sidelined with injuries. Nathan Tella and Eliesse Ben Seghir will also miss the match due to injuries sustained earlier this season. Janis Blaswich is expected to start in goal, while the defense may consist of Jarell Quansah, Robert Andrich, and Loic Bade. Patrik Schick is likely to return to the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the last match.
For Villarreal, the squad is also impacted by injuries. Pau Cabanes and Willy Kambwala are unavailable due to serious knee injuries, and Juan Foyth is out for the season due to an Achilles tendon injury. Santiago Mourino will miss the match due to suspension, while Pape Gueye may make an appearance in midfield. Players like Nicolas Pepe and Georges Mikautadze might be utilized in offensive roles to enhance their attacking strategy.
Predicted Lineups
| Bayer Leverkusen | Villarreal |
|---|---|
| Blaswich | Tenas |
| Quansah | Cardona |
| Andrich | Veiga |
| Bade | Marin |
| Vazquez | Navarro |
| Fernandez | Moleiro |
| Garcia | Gueye |
| Grimaldo | Parejo |
| Maza | Pepe |
| Poku | Oluwaseyi |
| Schick | Moreno |
Match Prediction
This highly anticipated match promises to be competitive, with Bayer Leverkusen holding the advantage of playing at home. Given their urgent need to qualify, Leverkusen is predicted to edge out Villarreal. The expected scoreline is a narrow 2-1 in favor of Bayer Leverkusen.
