Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Salzburg

BayArena sets the stage for a handsomely-looking UEFA Champions League showdown between Bayer Leverkusen and RB Salzburg.

Bayer Leverkusen pulled off an impressive comeback at the weekend, overhauling an early two-goal deficit in a 5-2 home win against Heidenheim, getting their stuttering Bundesliga campaign back on track. Back to their continental duties, ‘Die Werkself’ will be out to atone for a disastrous 4-0 loss at Liverpool in round four – their joint-heaviest defeat in the Champions League since November 2013! However, that result at Anfield marked their first reverse in the current European campaign (W2, D1) and only their third defeat across their last 24 continental fixtures (W15, D6). Another win looks like a virtual certainty for Xabi Alonso’s men, not least because of their outstanding run of six wins across their last seven European home outings (D1). Adding to that record would consolidate Leverkusen’s pursuit of knockout qualification for the first time since 2016/17.

Visiting RB Salzburg head into proceedings off the back of a morale-wracking 2-1 home league loss to LASK Linz. Back-to-back domestic defeats have derailed the visitors’ spirits following a stunning 3-1 victory at Feyenoord in the last Champions League round, diminishing their hopes of becoming the first Austrian club to beat Leverkusen in Europe (W3, D2). Before running riot in Rotterdam, Salzburg had lost three consecutive Champions League matches at the beginning of the newly formatted league phase by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ That’s ominous as they head to the BayArena to face the reigning Bundesliga holders, looking to improve an indifferent historical record against German sides (W6, D5, L9).