Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions: Die Werkself to keep things tight in Munich
&w=707&quality=100)
- Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Bayern Munich
- Bayern Munich have failed to win four of their 10 Champions League games this season
- Recommended bet: Bayer Leverkusen or draw double chance
Wednesday’s all-German Champions League tie takes us to Munich as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich look to claim a crucial first-leg victory over a Bayer Leverkusen side that dethroned them domestically last season.
Die Werkself have only lost once this calendar year, though, so they may be a tougher test than many imagine against a Bayern side that only narrowly beat Celtic in their Champions League play-off clash last month.
Team news
Harry Kane and Dayot Upamecano recovered from minor injuries to make the squad against Stuttgart at the weekend, but Joshua Kimmich was not present and remains a doubt for this tie. He may join backup goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on the sidelines.
Piero Hincapie will return to the back line for Bayer Leverkusen after being suspended for their weekend win over Eintracht Frankfurt, but Jeanuel Belocian and Martin Terrier are both out for the season with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
The stats
&w=707&quality=100)
Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions.
Bayern Munich have drawn two of their last four fixtures.
Xabi Alonso's men have won one and drawn two of their last three trips to the Allianz Arena.
Patrik Schick has scored five goals in his last four starts for Die Werkself.
Prediction
Bayern Munich’s uncharacteristic failure to hit their usual heights in the first stage of the Champions League has handed Bayer Leverkusen a tough round-of-16 tie with their German rivals, but they may be able to keep things tight before taking the Bundesliga giants back to the BayArena next week.
Bayer Leverkusen, who toppled perennial winners Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season, are eight points adrift of the league leaders this time around, but they can draw on a fantastic recent record against the Bavarians when they visit the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Die Bayern and their last three trips to this ground, and they head to Munich having lost just four games in all competitions since the beginning of last season.
Xabi Alonso’s side have not lost an away game against their countrymen since a 3-0 defeat to Bochum on the final day of the 2022/23 season, so they should be backed to avoid defeat against a home side who edged past Celtic in the play-off eliminator last month.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
