Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – News and Probable Lineups

Two legendary unbeaten teams of the 21st century face off in the round of 16 of the 2025-26 Champions League, as Bayer Leverkusen hosts Arsenal at the BayArena for Wednesday’s first leg.

The Bundesliga champions of 2023-24 successfully traversed a two-legged playoff against Olympiacos to secure a meeting with the Gunners, who were flawless throughout the league phase.

Match overview

Historically, Arsenal is often seen as the runner-up in continental competitions, having only secured the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994. Nonetheless, they established eight strong markers by winning all their early encounters in a commanding league-phase campaign.

Mikel Arteta orchestrated victories against opponents like Atletico Madrid, arch-rivals Bayern Munich, and the 2024-25 runners-up Inter de Milão, leading the Gunners to an uncontested first-place finish, having the best attack (23 goals) and best defense (four goals conceded) in the 36-team league phase.

Additionally, the knockout draw favored Arsenal, allowing them to avoid meetings with powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern, or Manchester City until the final, further elevating expectations for 2026 to be the year Arsenal lifts the Champions League trophy.

Amid their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple, Arsenal continues to draw criticism for their alleged tactical maneuvers, statistically-supported time-wasting, and well-known dependence on set pieces. However, the ongoing victories overshadow such issues.

Heading into Germany, Arsenal carries the momentum of their fourth consecutive win across all competitions, as a reserve team narrowly defeated Mansfield Town 2-1 in the FA Cup, marking the Gunners’ eighth instance of scoring 2 or more goals away in 11 matches.

Having gone an entire league season unbeaten two decades after Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles, Bayer Leverkusen, now without Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz, has regressed following the end of Bayern’s lengthy Bundesliga dominance.

It’s better not to dwell on the Erik ten Hag situation, but former Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand has provided stability in both domestic and European competitions, leading Leverkusen to the last 16 for the second consecutive season.

Finishing a modest 16th in the league phase, Leverkusen’s 2-0 away victory over Olympiacos in the first leg of their playoff placed Die Werkself in a strong position, knowing a goalless draw at home secured their progress.

Nonetheless, that stalemate is part of an unflattering run for the hosts, who have managed just one victory in their last five games across competitions and were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by Freiburg in their latest Bundesliga encounter.

However, results at the BayArena have been promising, as Hjulmand’s side remains unbeaten at home in their last six matches, conceding only one goal in those 540 minutes of action.

Leverkusen previously held Wenger’s Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in Germany back in 2002, but since then, the Gunners have achieved two impressive 4-1 wins, separated by 22 years—one in the same UCL campaign and another in a pre-season clash in 2024.

Team News

Several key players were missing from Arsenal’s squad against Mansfield over the weekend, but four of them—David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Magalhaes—were rested and are expected to return to the matchday squad.

However, William Saliba (ankle), Martin Odegaard (knee), and Ben White (knock) face more uncertainty regarding their availability, while Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori also left the pitch with concerns at the weekend, putting their participation in doubt.

Despite this, Calafiori was anticipated to make way for Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie—eligible to face his parent club this week—while Eberechi Eze, the hero of Saturday’s match, will return to the team in place of the injured Trossard.

Bayer Leverkusen, too, is not at full strength for the first leg, as Mark Flekken (knee), Loic Bade (hamstring), Arthur (ligament), Lucas Vazquez (calf), Eliesse Ben Seghir (calf), Nathan Tella (foot), and Patrik Schick (muscle) are sidelined.

Schick appears to have the best chance of making a comeback for the midweek clash, yet his fitness remains uncertain, so teenage talent Christian Kofane could lead the line instead.

Former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, recently tied to a potential return to Anfield, is expected to start as the central defender in Leverkusen’s three-man backline, while left wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo poses a significant threat from set pieces, highlighted by his impressive free kick in the weekend’s draw with Freiburg.

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Garcia, Fernandez, Grimaldo; Maza, terrier; Kofane

Arsenal probable starting XI:

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokere

Against Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Mansfield, Arsenal’s performances adhered to a familiar narrative—often unexciting yet crucial victories.

Leverkusen’s defensive prowess at home provides hope for their supporters, but considering Hjulmand’s squad limitations and the hosts’ inconsistent form, Arsenal is likely to return home with a narrow but essential advantage.