Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
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Bayer Leverkusen sit tucked inside the top 24 in the UEFA Champions League as they now welcome a struggling Villarreal side to the BayArena this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Steady Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen begin the match day sitting tucked inside the top 24 but only a point clear of the chasers and therefore in quite an awkward position, under the management of former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand.
Leverkusen bounced back from a 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos in Piraeus in the UEFA Champions League last week by getting back on track in the Bundesliga with a slender 1-0 victory over Werder Bremen at the weekend.
Villarreal preview: Struggling Villarreal
For much of this season, Villarreal have believed themselves to be involved in the title race in La Liga but the Yellow Submarine have suffered two 2-0 defeats to the Clasico giants Barcelona and Real Madrid within the last month or so.
Their push for top spot in Spain has seen them almost essentially sack off their European campaign and Marcelino’s men sit second-from-bottom with just one point collected from their seven league phase matches this season.
Bayer Leverkusen team news: A few injuries
First-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken has sustained a serious knee injury, while Nigeria international Nathan Tella has also been ruled out for a while due to injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Bade; Vazquez, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Maza, Poku; Kofane
Unavailable: Flekken (Injured), Tella (Injured), Terrier (Ineligible)
Questionable: Tapsoba (Injured), Ben Seghir (Injured)
Villarreal team news: Mourino suspended
Uruguayan defender Santiago Mourino is missing through suspension for this one, while fellow defenders Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala and Juan Foyth are confirmed injury absentees.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Tenas; Navarro, Marin, Veiga, Cardona; Pepe, Comesana, Partey, Moleiro; Oluwaseyi, Ayoze
Unavailable: Costa (Injured), Kambwala (Injured), Mourino (Suspended), Foyth (Injured), Cabanes (Injured)
Questionable:
Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal prediction
Villarreal may well rotate once again for this one as they line up three uninterrupted months in La Liga where they will focus on pushing to try and worry the likes of Barca and Madrid. Leverkusen have a lot more to play for. They aren’t playing well but they really shouldn’t be too concerned by that and, with their home advantage, they should come out on top in this one.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal Tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win
