Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle preview, team news and prediction

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side will be looking to push on and achieve an impressive top eight finish if they return from their Champions League clash against Leverkusen with all three points

With both Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United battling for a coveted spot in the Champions League’s top eight, the BayArena sets the stage for their crucial showdown on Wednesday. Leverkusen currently sit 17th in the league phase with eight points—two adrift of eighth-placed Sporting Lisbon—while Newcastle occupy 11th place with nine points.

Leverkusen impressed with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City when the two sides met, converting both of their shots on target and relying on goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s nine saves to secure the win. That result marked their second straight Champions League triumph, but since then, they have suffered two defeats in their last three matches, most recently falling 2-0 to Augsburg on December 6.

That loss to Augsburg was the first time in seven games that Die Schwarzroten failed to find the net—a stretch in which they kept four clean sheets and netted 14 goals. Domestically, Leverkusen sit fourth in the Bundesliga with 23 points, having scored 28 goals and conceded 19 across 13 matches. Manager Kasper Hjulmand has guided his team to three wins in their last five home games at the BayArena, though they have also suffered two defeats in that span, including a 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on November 29.

On the other side, Newcastle endured a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Marseille in France on November 25, despite taking an early lead through Harvey Barnes. The Magpies struggled to create clear chances after their opener and ultimately came up short. Their Premier League campaign has also been challenging, with the team currently 12th in the table on 22 points—just two more than they had at this stage last season.

Last term, 11 points were enough to reach the round of 16 playoffs, so if Leverkusen claim victory on Wednesday, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would need at least two points from their final two games against PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain to match that tally. The Magpies enter this midweek clash on the back of two wins and a draw, having scored eight goals and conceded four over those three matches.

Wednesday’s encounter will be the third meeting between these two sides, with Newcastle hoping to make it a hat-trick of 3-1 victories over their German hosts. The visitors recently recorded a 4-1 win at Everton on November 29, but prior to that, they had managed just one win, three draws, and four defeats in their previous eight away fixtures.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle Team News

Leverkusen’s high-profile summer acquisition, Jarell Quansah, is expected to feature in the starting lineup, anchoring a back three alongside Loic Bade and Jeanuel Belocian. With Exequiel Palacios sidelined due to a groin injury, Aleix Garcia and Ibrahim Maza are both strong candidates to fill the midfield vacancies. Up front, Patrik Schick is likely to lead the line, flanked by Christian Kofane and Malik Tillman.

For Newcastle, Aaron Ramsdale is set to continue in goal behind centre-backs Fabian Schar and Malick Thiaw, with Nick Pope still unavailable through injury. In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes has been a standout performer despite the team’s inconsistent form and should be partnered by Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Nick Woltemade is expected to spearhead the attack, while Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga will be eager to make an impact, with Yoane Wissa providing a valuable option off the bench.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle Prediction

• Both teams to score – 4/7 (Betfred)
• Draw/Newcastle – 2/5 (Betfred)
• Over 2.5 goals – 4/6 (Betfred)
• Nick Woltemade to score anytime – 6/4 (Betfred)

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