Bayer Leverkusen will try to redeem a poor season with a good Champions League performance as they host Atletico Madrid at BayArena on Tuesday. The two teams have met at the same stage of the competition in 2015 and Leverkusen started with a good 1-0 home win but eventually lost on penalties after an identical result in the second leg. The two sides have also met in the Europa League group stage in 2010 and both matches ended in 1-1 draws back then.
Bayer Leverkusen had a disappointing Bundesliga campaign so far, they have lost nine matches out of twenty one so far and they are in eighth place. They could miss out on European qualification but they can make up for that disappointment if they manage to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. They have recovered from two consecutive defeats with two consecutive wins in recent weeks, including last week's 3-1 victory at Augsburg. Hakan Calhanoglu is suspended for this match, while defender Jonathan Tah has a thigh injury. Amir Mehmedi might recover in time for Tuesday's match.
Atletico Madrid still have a realistic chance of reaching the top three in LaLiga, they are currently fourth but just four points behind Sevilla. The Champions League is very important for Diego Simeone and his men and they are coming into this match after four games unbeaten and three wins collected in the process. Last weekend they won 4-1 at Sporting Gijon, with Kevin Gameiro bagging a hat-trick. Goalkeepers Jan Oblak and Barragan are injured and will probably be out of contention, while Diego Godin, Juanfran and Tiago are also on the injured list.
Probable line-ups:
Leverkusen: Leno - Henrichs, Toprak, Dragovic, Wendell - Kampl, Baumgartlinger, Aranguiz, Brandt - Chicharito, Kiesling
Atletico: Moya - Vrsaljko, Savic, Lucas, Luis - Koke, Niguez, Gabi, Carrasco - Griezmann, Gameiro
My prediction: 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Leverkusen win - 3.40
Draw - 3.20
Atletico win - 2.38
02/21/17, 11:02:09 PM
