Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona Prediction and Preview – 09/12/15
Champions League preview – Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona prediction
Bayer Leverkusen defenders Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Omer Toprak have served their one-match Champions League bans and are in contention for the final Group E game. Admir Mehmedi was substituted for the sixth time this season in the 2-1 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Saturday but with five goals in the Champions League campaign is expected to start behind former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez. Defensive midfielder Lars Bender remains sidelined with an ankle problem leaving Kevin Kampl and Christoph Kramer the likely holding pair.
Barcelona could be missing both first choice full backs, Dani Alves is suspended for picking up three yellow cards while Jeremy Mathieu faces a race against time to recover from the thigh strain which kept him out of the 1-1 draw in Valencia on Saturday. Coach Luis Enrique must decide whether to risk Sergio Busquets who is one card away from a ban meanwhile the match comes too soon for midfield partner Sergi Roberto who is nursing an ankle knock.
Possible Line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen: 4-2-3-1 formation: Leno; Donati, Tah, Toprak, Boenisch; Kramer, Kempl; Bellarabi, Mehmedi, Calhanoglu; Hernadez
Barcelona: 4-3-3 formation: Bravo; Adriano, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Statistics
- Bayer Leverkusen have won 3 drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Barcelona have won 8, drawn 2 and lost 0 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Bayer Leverkusen have scored an average of 2.4 goals and conceded an average of 1.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Barcelona have scored an average of 3.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.4 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Bayer Leverkusen’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Barcelona’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Leverkusen have had an eventful Champions League campaign, kicking off the group stage with a 4-1 win at home to BATE. They were ten minutes away from a shock victory in the Nou Camp until late goals from Sergi Roberto and Luis Saurez snatched a 2-1 win for the Spanish champions. There was more excitement in the back to back games against Roma, Leverkusen came from two goals behind to earn a 4-4 draw at BayArena before a late penalty cost them a point in the 3-2 defeat in the return leg in Rome. A disappointing 1-1 draw at BATE leaves Leverkusen needing to win the final group game to guarantee progress although a draw could be good enough if Roma lose at home to BATE.
Barcelona began the defence of their title with a 1-1 draw at Roma and have won the four subsequent group games with increasing ease. The 6-1 destruction of Roma on matchday 5 came three days after Barcelona had humiliated Real Madrid 4-0 on their own turf. Luis Enrique’s men suffered a hiccup in La Liga on Saturday when Valencia scored late to earn a draw at Mestalla to end Barca’s seven-game win streak.
Barcelona have least to play for as they are assured group winners whatever the result but even a weakened team should prove too strong for a Leverkusen side struggling for results.
Tips
Barcelona to win at Evens with bet365
Barcelona to win & BTTS at 23/10 with bwin
Barcelona to win 2-1 at 9/1 with BetVictor
What are your predictions?
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