Bayer Leverkusen vs. Newcastle United: UEFA Champions League LIVE blog and team news

Bayer Leverkusen will look to make it three straight wins in the UEFA Champions League when they welcome Newcastle United to the BayArena on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).

Kasper Hjulmand's side reached the DFB Cup quarter-finals with an impressive victory at Borussia Dortmund in midweek but have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Bundesliga, losing to Niko Kovač's charges before going down 2-0 at Augsburg on Matchday 13.

Die Werkself appear to have found their feet in Europe, however, having followed up a 1-0 win over José Mourinho's Benfica with a superb 2-0 success at Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Victory over Newcastle would cement Bayer's place in the knockout phase play-off positions.

Watch: Maza wins Rookie of the Month

Hjulmand will hope to have Alejandro Grimaldo - scorer of Leverkusen's opener at the Etihad Stadium - at his disposal against the Magpies. The 30-year-old missed the defeat at Augsburg with an unspecified injury, which may keep him sidelined until Saturday's Bundesliga clash with rivals Cologne. Axel Tape, however, could be involved as he closes in on a return to action following a thigh injury.

Newcastle, who sit a point above Leverkusen in the league phase standings, will be looking to get their Champions League campaign back on track after losing to Marseille last month. Germany internationals Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw - both of whom have made quite the impression since their summer moves to England - are expected to start at the BayArena.

Match stats

• Leverkusen have lost only one of their last six UEFA matches against English teams (W3, D2), keeping four clean sheets in the process.
• Die Werkself have lost only two of their last nine league-phase matches, winning five and drawing two.
• Patrik Schick has scored in Leverkusen’s last two Champions League matches. The only previous Czech player to net in three consecutive games in the competition is Jan Koller for Dortmund in 2002/03
• Leverkusen have won their last two Champions League games without conceding. They last registered three victories in a row in the 2014/15 group stage, but they have never won three consecutive games in the competition without conceding.
• After winning their first four UEFA matches against German teams, Newcastle are winless in the last three encounters (D1, L2) against Bundesliga opposition.
• The only previous UEFA meetings between Leverkusen and Newcastle came in the 2002/03 Champions League second group stage. The English side won 3-1 at home and away.

Probable teams

Leverkusen: Flekken - Andrich (c), Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Maza, García, Poku - Tillman, Echeverri - Schick
Out: Blaswich (muscular), Fernández (knee), Palacios (groin)
Doubtful: Tape (fitness), Grimaldo (unspecified), Vázquez (back)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Newcastle: Ramsdale - Livramento, Thiaw, Schär, Hall - Guimarães (c), Tonali, Joelinton - Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes
Out: Botman (back), Krafth (knee), Pope (groin), Trippier (hamstring), Osula (hamstring)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Eddie Howe

LIVE blog!

VS

Leverkusen

Wed, 10.12 20:00

Newcastle

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 6 League phase, Matchday 6 BayArena

2:03

Leverkusen lose

The Werskelf slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Augsburg on Saturday but remain in the Bundesliga's top four.

Mixed picture for Magpies

Goals from Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon took Newcastle to a 2-1 home win over Burnley on Saturday to make it four Premier League matches unbeaten, but they remain in the bottom half of their domestic table in 11th.

© IMAGO/Richard Lee/Shutterstock

Familiar faces

Malick Thiaw is a Germany international who came through the system at Schalke, while Fabian Schär was previously at Hoffenheim. Joelinton, too, was on the books of the Sinsheim-based outfit before moving to Newcastle, and Nick Woltemade has impressed in the north of England since signing from VfB Stuttgart in the summer.

© IMAGO/Dave Winter/Shutterstock

Head-to-head

These teams have met twice before, 23 years ago. Newcastle won both games 3-1 in the second group stage of the 2002/03 Champions League, although both teams were knocked out at that stage.

© Imago

Newcastle - the story so far

It has been a mixed bag for the Toon Army. They were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in their opening game before recording three successive wins. However, they lost 2-1 at Marseille last time out to leave them just outside the top eight with three games remaining.

© IMAGO/Dave Winter/Shutterstock

Bayer Leverkusen - the story so far

After a disappointing opening three games, that included a 7-2 loss to reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, Leverkusen have bounced back in the past two games. They have enjoyed back-to-back wins in those matches, beating Benfica 1-0 and Manchester City 2-0 both away from home. That has taken them to a total of eight points and a 17th-place spot in the league phase standings.

© IMAGO/Norbert SCHMIDT

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League encounter at home to Newcastle United on Matchday 6 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.

About the clubs

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena