MX23RW : Sunday, February 2 23:16:23| >> :60:104:104:
[monks data]
Attendance: 29,542
Leverkusen logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 11, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Juventus logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Ronaldo (75'), Higuain (92')

Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Juventus - predictions, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews the Champions League clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Juventus travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen in the knowledge that they have already secured their spot as winners of Champions League Group D.

Leverkusen are just one point behind second-placed Atletico Madrid in the group and a win, combined with the La Liga side dropping points against Lokomotiv Moscow, would see them advance to the knockout stages.


Match Preview

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Juventus on October 1, 2019© Reuters

Bayer Leverkusen will hoping to continue their fine recent form and claim an unlikely victory over a Juventus side with nothing to play for to give themselves the best possible chance of progressing from the group.

The German outfit have won their last three in a row and are unbeaten in six games across all competitions, losing just one of their last nine.

Leverkusen are sixth in the Bundesliga, but are just one point behind third-placed Borussia Dortmund, having lost just three of their 14 league games so far.

The reverse fixture in Turin ended in a comfortable 3-0 victory for Juventus, who will be hoping for more of the same as they look to bounce back from their shock 3-1 defeat against Lazio last time out.

However, the Serie A side's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in their last Champions League outing secured their spot as group winners, meaning they have nothing riding on Wednesday's fixture.

As a result, Maurizio Sarri may well rotate his starting lineup in Germany, giving Leverkusen an opportunity to capitalise on what could be a weakened team.

Juventus' defeat in Rome leaves them two points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan and the former Chelsea and Napoli boss may well look to prioritise the Bianconeri's next league outing against Udinese.

Additionally, the loss to Lazio was their first defeat of any kind this season and the Juventus squad will be keen to offer a swift response to the shock result.

Bayer Leverkusen Champions League form: LLLWW
Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions): WWDWWW

Juventus Champions League form: DWWWW
Juventus form (all competitions): WWWWDL


Team News

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri gestures against Atletico Madrid on September 18, 2019© Reuters

Juventus boss Sarri is limited by a handful of injury concerns but will likely rotate anyway for what is a dead-rubber fixture for his side.

Midfielder Sami Khedira and winger Douglas Costa are both definitely out with knee and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey and Rodrigo Bentancur are both doubts and are unlikely to be risked.

For Leverkusen manager Peter Bosz, Mitchell Weiser and Joel Pohjanpalo are both sidelined with injury, while Nadiem Amiri is suspended.

Aside from that trio, however, they have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; L. Bender, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell; Aranguiz, Baumgartlinger; Bellarabi, Havertz, Bailey; Volland

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Buffon; Cuadrado, Rugani, Demiral, De Sciglio; Matuidi, Pjanic, Rabiot; Bernardeschi; Higuain, Ronaldo


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Juventus

Had Juventus not just suffered their first defeat of the season, it would have been more feasible that the reigning Serie A champions could stumble in what is a dead-rubber fixture for them. However, Sarri's side will be eager to respond to losing and can be expected to approach this game with far more vigour than they would have originally. Unfortunately for Leverkusen, that could see their dreams of leapfrogging Atletico into second and progressing to the knockout stages dashed.



ID:382356: cacheID:382356:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7476:
Written by
Sean Wilson
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey warming up on October 22, 2018
Read Next:
Football rumours from the media
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool870121
QInter Milan861119
QBarcelona861119
QArsenal861119
QAtletico860218
QB. Leverkusen851216
QAston Villa851216
QLille851216
9Real Madrid850315
10AC Milan850315
11Atalanta843115
12Dortmund850315
13Bayern850315
14PSV842214
15Benfica841313
16Feyenoord841313
17PSG841313
18Monaco841313
19Brest841313
20Juventus833212
21Celtic833212
22Man City832311
23Sporting Lisbon832311
24Brugge832311
25Dinamo Zagreb832311
26Stuttgart831410
27Shakhtar82157
28Bologna81346
29Red Star82066
30Sturm Graz82066
31Sparta Prague81164
32RB Leipzig81073
33Girona81073
34Salzburg81073
35Slovan Bratislava80080
36Young Boys80080


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!