Vincent Kompany’s men have a clear advantage here and Xabi Alonso’s team are not going to have an easy matchup. Bayer may win this battle, but it will be difficult to win the war, as coming from three goals down is a tall order.
Match info: UEFA Champions League
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
Date: Tuesday, 11th March 2025
Time: 9 pm Nigerian time
Bayer Leverkusen will have to produce one of the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time if they are to advance past visitors Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals when they meet on Tuesday at BayArena.
The hosts were beaten 3-0 by the Bavarians on March 5 in the first leg of their round of 16 clash following a second-half collapse, and it should also be noted that they trail their first-placed opponents by eight points in the Bundesliga.
Head-to-head:
- The first leg was their first-ever UEFA Champions League meeting, and Bayern Munich won 3-0.
- Leverkusen were unbeaten in the last 6 matches against Bayern before the first leg.
- 9 of their last 10 encounters produced at least 2 goals.
- Bayer Leverkusen are undefeated in their home games against Bayern Munich under Xabi Alonso.
- Bayern Munich are looking to qualify for the quarterfinals of the UCL for the 35th time.
- Xabi Alonso’s men are on a two-match losing streak.
Form:
- Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League: W-W-L-W-L
- Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions: D-W-W-L-L
- Bayern Munich in the Champions League: L-W-W-D-W
- Bayern Munich in all competitions: D-W-W-W-L
Team News:
- Florian Wirtz, Jeanuel Belocian, Jonas Hofmann, and a couple of more players are injured and will not be a part of Bayer Leverkusen’s squad. Nordi Mukiele is suspended as he received a red card.
- Bayern Munich will be without the services of Manuel Neuer, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Tarek Buchmann.
Player(s) to watch:
- Harry Kane was on fire for Bayern Munich in the last UEFA Champions League match. Harry Kane went on to score a brace against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and helped his side to take the advantage. The Englishman will be the main man in the attacking front for Bayern this time as well. Kane is the goal scorer for Bayern in both Bundesliga and Champions League.
- Alejandro Grimaldo will have a major role to play. Many important players will not be a part of Levekusen’s squad due to injuries and Alejandro Grimaldo will have to step up to help his team stand a chance against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s men are already three-goal down and Grimaldo might help them make a comeback here.