BAYER LEVERKUSEN welcome title rivals Bayern Munich to the BayArena this evening, but this heavyweight title fight isn’t taking place at the dizzy heights of the Bundesliga table, as a place in the Champions League quarterfinals is up for grabs.
It’s the first time these two sides have faced off on Europe’s biggest stage, and it’s safe to say Bayern made the most of it.
Goals from Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala secured a 3-0 win for the six-time winners in Munich last week, helping Bayern to achieve their first win over Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen in six attempts.
However, they lost their number one, Manuel Neuer, just before the hour mark, who will be out ‘for the foreseeable’ with a calf injury.
21-year-old, and then-debutant Jonas Urbig took his place, and may make his first European start for the German giants this evening.
Injury problems have struck Leverkusen’s camp as well, with Florian Wirtz confirmed to be out for several weeks with an ankle ligament injury.
Desperately needing goals tonight, Bayer 04 will be without their Champions League top scorer.
Bayern will undoubtedly be heading into this fixture with the most confidence, but if we learnt anything from Leverkusen’s campaign last year, they are never completely out of it.
Whoever wins the clash this evening will finally leave Germany, where a trip to either Milan or Rotterdam awaits, as the winner will face either Inter Milan or Feyenoord in the last eight of the Champions League.
