Meetings between Bayer 04 and Atletico Madrid have tradition on the big European stage. After tonight's clash, the Werkself will have played more competitive games against the Rojiblancos than against any other team from Spain. In 10 encounters there have been three wins (all at home), four draws and three defeats. There's a more in-depth look back at the previous meetings HERE.
Atletico are unbeaten in 10 Champions League home games against German teams. They've also just won four UCL matches in a row for the first time since November 2016. For their part, the Werkself could keep a fifth clean in this Champions League season - only Liverpool have registered more shutouts so far.
Atletico's impressive winning run of 15 games in all competitions - a club record - came to an end last weekend with a surprise 1-0 defeat at promoted side CD Leganes, which saw Diego Simeone's men knocked off top spot in LaLiga by city rivals Real Madrid. In the Champions League, meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann and Co sit in 11th place in the league phase on 12 points, one point behind fourth-placed Bayer 04. After a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig to start, there were two defeats at Benfica (4-0) and at home to OSC Lille (3-1) before three successive wins against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1), Sparta Prague (6-0) and Slovan Bratislava (3-1). There's more in our opposition analysis.
Before the Bayer 04 press conference yesterday evening with Xabi Alonso and Alejandro Grimaldo (round-up HERE), Atletico coach Simeone and midfielder Pablo Barrios also had their say on today's match. Simeone said: "Bayer Leverkusen are an extraordinary team. They play very good football with very good tempo, transitions and positional play. The way they play football is admirable."
Meanwhile, Barrios said: "It's going to be a difficult game. We all know Bayer Leverkusen, they'll make it very tough for us. But we'll go out there together and do our best to win."
For all Werkself fans following the game in Madrid, Bayer 04 partner weloveholidays has summarised the best travel tips for the top attractions in the Spanish capital. You can find the article HERE.
The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team have also put together a guide for the 1,700 Werkself fans who are travelling to the Champions League away match. The fan info is HERE.
UEFA has appointed Davide Massa as the referee for this one. The 43-year-old Italian has officiated four competitive matches involving Leverkusen to date, including the 4-0 win at Feyenoord on Matchday 1 of the current Champions League campaign. Assisting Massa today are his compatriots Ciro Carbone and Stefano Alassio on the sidelines, as well as Aleandro di Paolo as VAR.
The Werkself play Union Berlin at the BayArena on Bundesliga Matchday 29 in the 2020/25 season. The match on Saturday, 12 April, kicks off at 15:30 CEST. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself play FC Augsburg at the BayArena on Bundesliga Matchday 31 in the 2020/25 season. The schedule for the match remains to be confirmed. Information on ticket sales.
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The Bayer 04 Women's team impressively made amends against Werder Bremen one month after the unfortunate exit from the DFB Pokal at the quarter-finals stage. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold clocked up a an emphatic 6-0 victory on Sunday afternoon. The outstanding Loreen Bender forced the first goal from a corner (2'), scored the second with an excellent long-range effort (39') and brilliantly set up the third goal. Carolin Kehrer netted a brace (50', 55'), with Cornelia Kramer (76') and Delice Boboy (79') also getting on the scoresheet. The afternoon was rounded off perfectly for the Leverkusen Women with a win that gives them 36 points from 17 games setting a new points record in their time in the Bundesliga.
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The Werkself are away to VfB Stuttgart on Bundesliga Matchday 26. Today's game at the MHP Arena on Sunday night, 16 March, kicks off at 19:30 CET. Catch up on the latest information on the clash with last season's runners-up in today's matchday news.
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