Bayer Leverkusen V Bayern Munich: Line-ups, Stats And Preview

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Match Preview for Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich

Leverkusen have made great comebacks a habit over the past 18 months but finding a way past Bayern Munich and into the Champions League round of 16 would top the lot.

Xabi Alonso’s side were renown for snatching late wins on their way to clinching a first Bundesliga crown last season, their unwillingness to settle for a draw eventually grinding down Bayern in the title race.

Bayern have had the upper hand this season, though, both domestically and in Europe.

📌 𝑵𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉: Second leg in Leverkusen for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals! 💫

Let’s go together on Tuesday! 👊#B04FCB #UCL #FCBayern #OurWayHoam pic.twitter.com/BaVkKWR8H4

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) March 9, 2025

The Bavarians were dominant 3-0 winners in the first leg last Wednesday at the Allianz Arena and will start as overwhelming favourites to advance on aggregate into the last eight.

They also hold an eight-point lead over Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga and seem certain to reclaim supremacy in Germany.

Surprisingly, both sides were beaten at the weekend. Leverkusen went down 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen while, even more astonishingly, Bayern lost to Bochum.

It all seemed to be going to plan for Kompany when his much-changed side led 2-0 after 28 minutes but the dismissal of midfielder Joao Palhinha just before half-time changed the complexion of the game. It was still a huge surprise, however, that Bayern crumbled the way they did as relegation-threatened Bochum hit back to win 3-2.

Team News for Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich

Missing out on the chance to close the gap on Bayern at the weekend was a massive blow for Leverkusen and perhaps spells the end of their Bundesliga title challenge. If that wasn’t bad enough, they also lost star winger Florian Wirtz for ‘several weeks’.

The Germany international was rested at the weekend with tomorrow night’s European game in mind.

But he was brought on at half-time with Xabi Alonso’s side trailing 1-0. He lasted just 14 minutes, though, before having to go off after being on the end of a heavy challenge from Mitchell Weiser.

An update from the Bundesliga champions this morning confirmed the bad news.

The statement read: “Bayer 04 will have to manage without Florian Wirtz. The Germany international suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle in the home game against Werder Bremen [0-2] on Saturday. That was the diagnosis from an MRI scan following the game.

“The 21-year-old midfielder will be out of action for several weeks.”

Granit Xhaka and Edmond Tapsoba were also taken off against Bremen and both could miss out tomorrow.

“I have to say that nothing worked today,” admitted Alonso on Saturday evening. “I’m responsible for that and not making those decisions in the future again.

“It was between two big Champions League games. We needed to rotate. We have to use everyone, but today wasn’t good.”

Kompany will empathise having also made wholesale changes against Bochum and watched it backfire.

Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Alphonso Davies were all benched but will return at the BayArena.

Manuel Neuer remains sidelined.

Predicted line-ups for Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hermoso, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Schick

Bayern Munich: Urbig; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiuala, Coman; Kane

Off to training! ✌️⚫️🔴 pic.twitter.com/BSqhCzpl2v

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 10, 2025

How to watch Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich: TV channel, online live stream

The game can be watched in the UK on TNT Sports. Kick-off is 8pm.

You can stream the game on the Discovery+ app.

Stats for Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich

In 11 of the last 13 Bayer Leverkusen home matches in the Champions League, the total number of goals was under 3.5
Bayer Leverkusen have won their last four games when Patrik Schick has scored
There have been three or more goals scored in each of Bayern’s last four games