Atletico Madrid will look to recover from their unexpected La Liga loss to Leganes as they continue their Champions League journey with a match against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.
Diego Simeone’s team sits 11th in the Champions League standings, just one point behind eighth-placed Lille, while Leverkusen occupies fourth place, having earned 13 points from their six games in this season’s competition.
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Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen: Match Preview
Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak to 12 matches across all competitions with a 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. Wirtz scored twice, while Schick added another to bring his tally to 12 goals in eight matches. However, the victory came at a cost, as they lost Martin Terrier to injury within 10 minutes, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Xabi Alonso’s team remains within striking distance of Bayern Munich, trailing them by four points and sitting five points ahead of third-place Eintracht Frankfurt.
In Europe, Leverkusen have been equally impressive, suffering just one defeat so far this season—a 4-1 loss to Liverpool in November, their only away defeat of 2024. Since then, they’ve secured two wins and two clean sheets against Red Bull Salzburg (5-0) and Inter Milan (1-0). In total, Die Werkself have kept a clean sheet in four of their six Champions League matches, showcasing a solid defense alongside their attacking prowess. They are currently fourth in the standings with 13 points, trailing Liverpool by five and sitting one point ahead of Atleti, who are in 11th place.
Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, had a strong domestic campaign, leading La Liga until they were overtaken by Real Madrid following a 1-0 loss to Leganés on Sunday. Before that setback, they had won eight consecutive matches, maintaining five clean sheets and scoring 18 goals. Antoine Griezmann (seven goals) and Alexander Sørloth (eight goals) have been key contributors in the league, while Julián Alvarez has been their top scorer in Europe with four goals in as many games.
Despite losing to Benfica (4-0) and Lille (3-1) in the Champions League, Atletico won four other group-stage matches, scoring 13 goals while conceding just three. Currently, they sit on 12 points in the standings, tied with several teams, including Leverkusen, who have one more point than them.
Leverkusen enters their upcoming match against Sparta Prague after a dominant 3-1 Bundesliga victory, securing 12 consecutive wins across all competitions. They are second in the Bundesliga, four points behind Bayern Munich, and will be optimistic about their chances against the Czech side. However, they face a challenge, as they have only won three of their last 21 away matches against Spanish teams and have not reached the Champions League knockout stages since 2016-17.
Atletico, having recently ended a 15-match winning streak, now face the pressure of staying in contention for a top spot in the Champions League. Despite their La Liga dominance, they still need to improve their European form, sitting 11th in their group with 12 points after six games. Atletico’s record against Leverkusen stands at three wins and three losses in their last 10 encounters, with a 2-2 draw in their previous meeting in the 2022-23 Champions League group stage in Madrid. Atletico’s home form in Europe has been impressive, with 17 wins and just three losses in 25 games against German clubs, and they have won seven of their last eight Champions League home matches.
Leverkusen, with 13 points from six games this season, are in a similar situation, sitting fourth in the group with 12 goals scored and five conceded. The match between these two teams is crucial, with both sides having everything to play for on the penultimate matchday of the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen: Head-to-Head
- Matches Played: 8
- Atletico Madrid: 3
- Bayer Leverkusen: 3
- Draws: 2
Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Atletico Madrid – Team News
Atletico will once again be without Jose Gimenez, who is sidelined due to a muscle issue, while Alexander Sørloth remains a slight doubt, though there is still a possibility he could be included in the squad.
Marcos Llorente is expected to start on Tuesday, likely filling in at right-back, which would see Nahuel Molina move to the bench.
Conor Gallagher is anticipated to continue on the left for the Red and Whites, with Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez likely to form the strike partnership, even if Sørloth proves fit for selection.
Atletico Madrid – Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)
- Goalkeeper: Oblak
- Defenders: Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Galan
- Midfielders: Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher
- Forwards: Griezmann, Alvarez
Bayer Leverkusen – Team News
Leverkusen will be without Martin Terrier, Jeanuel Belocian, Victor Boniface, and Amine Adli, with Terrier having been forced off early in their match against Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Florian Wirtz has been a key player for Leverkusen this season, netting 14 goals and providing nine assists in 28 appearances across all competitions. He will once again feature as the number 10.
Patrik Schick has also been in top form, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, and he will be looking to add his second Champions League goal of the season in Tuesday’s match.
Bayer Leverkusen – Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1)
- Goalkeeper: Hradecky
- Defenders: Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie
- Midfielders: Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo, Frimpong
- Forwards: Wirtz, Tella
Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen: Match Prediction
Atletico’s 15-game winning streak was halted by Leganes over the weekend, and they now face a challenging task to return to winning form this week. Bayer Leverkusen stretched their winning run to 11 matches with a 3-1 victory over Gladbach on Saturday.
Atletico remain unbeaten in their last five home matches against Bayer Leverkusen, a record that could extend with a draw on Tuesday.
Match Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
When and Where to Watch Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen will take place at Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain.
The match is set for January 22 at 1:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
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FAQs
How is Bayer Leverkusen performing in the Champions League this season?
Bayer Leverkusen has been impressive in the Champions League, earning 13 points from six matches and sitting in fourth place, with four wins, one draw, and one loss.
Who are the key players for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024-25 season?
Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick have been standout performers for Leverkusen this season. Wirtz has scored 14 goals and provided nine assists, while Schick has netted 16 goals across all competitions.
What is Atletico Madrid’s current form in the Champions League?
Atletico Madrid is currently 11th in the Champions League standings with 12 points from six matches, having won four games and lost two.
What is Atletico Madrid’s record against Bayer Leverkusen at home?
Atletico Madrid is unbeaten in their last five home encounters with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, with a possible draw expected in their upcoming match.
Who is missing from the squads of Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen for the upcoming match?
Atletico will miss Jose Gimenez due to injury, and Alexander Sørloth is a doubt. Leverkusen will be without Martin Terrier, Jeanuel Belocian, Victor Boniface, and Amine Adli.
