Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info for UCL Match
Bayer Leverkusen will be out for revenge on Tuesday, as they take on Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three seasons.
After both sides won their respective home legs 1-0 in the previous meetings in 2015, Atletico eventually triumphed in a thrilling penalty shootout. The German side will now be hoping to make home advantage count in what should be an absorbing first leg at the BayArena.
The Spanish giants haven't been at their best in La Liga this season, although they've earned a reputation as specialists in Europe after finishing as runners-up in two of the last three editions of the Champions League. Manager Diego Simeone will want to see his side take that final step this year.
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To do so, they will need to overcome the Bundesliga outfit. Here are key viewing details for the contest, the team news for each side and a look ahead to how this match will likely play out.
Date: Tuesday, February 21
Time: 7:45 p.m. (GMT), 2:45 p.m. (ET)
Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S.)
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen: Manager Roger Schmidt could be without star centre-back Jonathan Tah, who remains a big doubt due to a muscle problem. Hakan Calhanoglu is banned for the rest of the season.
Likely XI: Bernd Leno; Benjamin Henrichs, Aleksandar Dragovic, Tin Jedvaj, Wendell; Lars Bender, Charles Aranguiz; Karim Bellarabi, Kevin Kampl, Julian Brandt; Javier Hernandez
Atletico Madrid: Simeone has some big decisions to make in defence, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak, centre-back Diego Godin and right-back Juanfran all set to miss out. Kevin Gameiro will surely start, having netted a hat-trick off the bench in the 4-1 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
Likely XI: Miguel Moya; Sime Vrsaljko, Lucas Hernandez, Stefan Savic, Filipe Luis; Saul Niguez, Koke, Gabi, Yannick Carrasco; Kevin Gameiro, Antoine Griezmann
Team news courtesy of Transfermarkt.
Preview
For both of these sides, it's likely the Champions League will take priority between now and the end of the campaign, with neither performing to their usual standards in their domestic divisions.
Bayer find themselves down in eighth place in the Bundesliga as things stand. Schmidt has struggled to get consistency out of his players and with Calhanoglu, the team's creator-in-chief, sidelined for the rest of the campaign, going far in the Champions League will be a challenge.
However, they have won their last two Bundesliga matches, with Javier Hernandez back at his ruthless best in the penalty box.
Per OptaFranz, the Mexico international has found his edge in front of goal again after struggling for much of the season:
Atletico's run to the final in 2014 and 2016 was founded on an unbending defensive backbone, but with so many key men absent in their back four, Simeone has opted to be a little more enterprising in recent weeks.
The capital club eventually came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 win over Celta Vigo; that was before Saturday, when they put together a stunning late rally to beat Gijon 4-1.
The fact that Gameiro, the club's marquee summer signing, was able to come off the bench to score a hat-trick at El Molinon is a measure of their depth in the final third. Per Kieran Canning, it was quite the cameo from the Frenchman to help his side win the game:
As such, expect Gameiro to partner his compatriot, Antoine Griezmann, in attack for Atletico in this crucial first leg. Getting an away goal was something they were unable to do in 2015 against Bayer and, as a result, the pressure was heaped on for the return leg at the Vicente Calderon.
Leverkusen will fancy their chances of breaking down this makeshift Atletico defence, and it's likely the contest will be a lot more entertaining than if both sides were at full strength.
Hernandez's movement can be devilishly difficult to deal with for defenders, although he will be relying on the likes of Kevin Kampl, Karim Bellarabi and Julian Brandt provide quality service.
However, on the night, Atletico's superior firepower will be enough for them to take a positive result back to the Calderon.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Atletico Madrid
