Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen: UEFA Champions League LIVE blog and team news
Bayer Leverkusen will look to build on their impressive victory over Benfica earlier this month when they resume their UEFA Champions League campaign at Manchester City on Tuesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).
Pep Guardiola’s City look a formidable force this season - particularly in front of their own fans - but having claimed their first European win of the campaign against José Mourinho’s side, Die Werkself will be confident of upsetting the odds at Etihad Stadium.
Like their opponents, Kasper Hjulmand’s charges go into the game in fine form. Indeed, only Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich and reigning European champions Paris St-Germain have got the better of Leverkusen since their opening-day defeat at home to Hoffenheim.
Watch: Leverkusen 6-0 Heidenheim - highlights
Saturday’s victory in Wolfsburg means they have won nine of their 14 matches under Hjulmand, who has faced Guardiola only once before as a coach - in a 2-1 home defeat to Bayern during his spell as Mainz boss in 2014/15.
The Dane will have to make do without Ezequiel Fernández in Manchester as the midfielder continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury, while Exequiel Palacios remains sidelined with a groin problem.
Tuesday’s clash will likely come too soon for Lucas Vázquez, who has been out since late October with a muscle issue, but newly minted England international defender Jarell Quansah is in line for a starting recall after dropping to the bench in Wolfsburg. Robert Andrich could revert to a holding midfield role as a result.
City loanee Claudio Echeverri might have to content himself with a place on the bench, however, with USA international Malik Tillmann and veteran midfielder Jonas Hofmann impressing once again with goals against the Wolves. Young Algerian midfielder Ibrahim Maza is also enjoying a run in the side.
As for City, they fell to third place in the Premier League table after a three-game winning streak in all competitions ended in a 2-1 loss at Newcastle United on Saturday.
One of three teams yet to lose in the league phase this season, Guardiola’s charges laid down a marker with a 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund last time out - a result which ended BVB’s unbeaten league phase start.
Victory over Leverkusen would stretch the Cityzens’ winning home run in all competitions to seven games. Former Dortmund goal-machine Erling Haaland - who is currently on 19 this term - has scored at least once in each of those victories.
Other than midfielder Mateo Kovačić, who is currently sidelined with a heel issue, Guardiola may have a full squad to choose from against the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions - although there are still question marks over Rodri’s availability.
The Spain international has missed City’s last three games with a hamstring problem and faces a race against time to be fit for Tuesday.
Match stats
- Leverkusen have lost only three of their last 20 UEFA competition group/league matches (W12 D5).
- Victory for Bayer would be their 50th in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history.
- None of Leverkusen’s last 27 UEFA competition matches has finished goalless.
- Die Werkself’s last away victory in England was a 1-0 success against Tottenham in the 2016/17 Champions League group stage.
- Haaland has scored 10 goals in his nine UEFA Champions League appearances against German teams.
- This is Guardiola’s 100th Champions League game in charge of City.
Probable teams
Manchester City: Donnarumma - Nunes, Días (c), Gvardiol, O’Reilly - Silva, González - Cherki, Foden, Doku - Haaland
Out: Kovačić (heel)
Doubtful: Rodri (ankle)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Leverkusen: Flekken - Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Andrich (c), García, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Tillman - Schick
Out: Fernández (knee), Palacios (groin), Vázquez (muscular)
Doubtful: Tape (thigh)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
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