Leverkusen out to end European year on a high note
Bayer 04 Leverkusen may already have qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, but they will still be eager to finish the group stage on a high note at home to AS Monaco FC Wednesday evening (kick-off: 20:45 CET/19:45 GMT).
Playing their final Group E encounter, Die Werkself welcome the French side, who are already guaranteed top spot, to the BayArena as they look to maintain their impressive unbeaten run in all UEFA competitions since 2014.
"I'm already looking forward to the match," said head coach Roger Schmidt over the weekend. Indeed, the game provides Leverkusen with a rare opportunity to make history by finishing a Champions League group stage without tasting defeat.
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Already guaranteed second place in the group after recording one win and four draws, Leverkusen can take further motivation from the fact they have never beaten their Ligue 1 opponents.
In five previous meetings with Monaco, Bayer 04 have lost three and drawn two - although they went agonisingly close to victory on Matchday 2, conceding a 94th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 stalemate in September.
Watch: Highlights of Leverkusen's draw with Freiburg on Mathday 13.
The hosts have some selection worries in attack, with Admir Mehmedi, Kevin Kampl and Kevin Volland all ruled out with injuries, meaning Hakan Calhangolu and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez are set to lead the line up front once more.