Bayer Leverkusen will look to secure Europa League football this Tuesday when they welcome Club Brugge to BayArena.
Venue: BayArena (Leverkusen)
Key Statistics
Bayer Leverkusen are winless in their last three UCL games (D1, L2).
The hosts have conceded 2+ goals in each of their last five games in all competitions.
Each of Leverkusen’s last nine home contests have witnessed at least one goal after the hour mark.
Club Brugge have lost just once in their last eight away games (W5, D2).
They have kept three clean sheets in the UCL this season.
Head to head
Club Brugge have one win and one draw against Leverkusen in two meetings.
Latest performances in all competitions
Bayer Leverkusen: L-D-D-L-L
Club Brugge: W-L-D-W-W
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will look to dust themselves back up and try to secure a win in their final game of the UEFA Champions League for this season when they welcome Group B leaders Club Brugge to BayArena.
The hosts missed out on the opportunity to qualify for the next round of the UCL last time out when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Atletico Madrid. Xabi Alonso’s men could have lost the game late on after Atletico were awarded a late penalty. But goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky produced a stunning save to deny Yannick Carrasco a certain penalty and kept his side’s slim chances of playing Europa League football next year alive.
However, the chances of them playing in the Europa League next season are not in their hands as they come into this tie sitting bottom of the table, one point behind third-placed Atletico Madrid. To qualify for the Europa League, they will need to better Atletico Madrid’s result against Porto, considering their superior head-to-head record against the Spanish team.
Should Atletico lose and they draw, it will be enough to seal progression into Europa League. However, having failed to win any of their last five games in all competitions, Alonso’s men might not have the confidence to pull off such a result against a Club Brugge team that have lost just one UCL game this season.
Possible Bayer Leverkusen starting line-up
Lukas Hradecky; Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah; Jeremie Frimpong, Mitchel Bakker, Robert Andrich Callum Hudson-Odoi; Patrik Schick, Moussa Diaby, Amine Adli.
Injured: Charles Aranguiz, Sardar Azmoun, Florian Wirtz
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Club Brugge
Despite being at the top of the table in this group, there is still work to be done for Carl Hoefkens and his Club Brugge side.
The visitors began their UCL campaign with three straight wins before a 1-1 draw against Atletico in the fourth round secured their first UCL group stage progression in 30 years.
However, they were humbled by FC Porto last time out, with Sergio Conceicao’s side beating them 4-0 at home.
Manager Carl Hoefkens was quick to shrug off the defeat by stating that it was a ‘’good lesson and learning moment’’ for his side.
But Hoefkens will be keen for his side to get a win in this game as they target a top-of-the-table finish that will cause his side to be drawn against one of the bigger teams in Europe.
Having beaten Oostende 4-2 at the weekend, Brugge will travel to Germany in a confident mood.
Possible Club Brugge starting line-up
Mignolet; Antonio Nusa, Brandon Mechele, Dedryck Boyata, Bjorn Meijer; Casper Nielsen, Eder Balanta, Hans Vanaken; Noa Lang, Ferran Jutglà, Kamal Sowah.
Injured: Clinton Mata, Mats Rits
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| Bayer Leverkusen to win | Draw | Club Brugge to win | |
| Odds | 1.57 | 4.33 | 5.00 |
| Probability (%) | 60 | 22 | 19 |
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Club Brugge
