Predicted Champions League XIs | Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich | OneFootball

After the 3-0 defeat last week at the hands of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen will need something close to a miracle to turn their fortunes around.

Both teams made vast changes at the weekend in the Bundesliga and both surprisingly lost. Bayern lost at home to Bochum 3-2, while Leverkusen lost, convincingly, 2-0 to Werder Bremen. Bayern came away with no casualties, Leverkusen on the other hand did.

The biggest talking point is Florian Wirtz. The Leverkusen dynamo will miss a number of weeks due to an ankle injury picked up following a challenge from Mitchell Weiser. How Leverkusen compensate for his absence will be the biggest key in whether they can mount a comeback or not. Elsewhere Granit Xhaka and Edmond Tapsoba both picked up knocks but appear fit again for the second leg.

Head coach Xabi Alonso is expected to double down on some of his principles and keep Matej Kovar in goal, despite his error last week and is likely to continue to play without a recognised striker.

Bayern on the other hand are likely to name close to an unchanged 11. The only change will be Jonas Urbig in for Manuel Neuer who went off injured last week in the first leg. Aleksandar Pavlovic remains absent with an infection.

Predicted XIs (via kicker):

Bayer Leverkusen:

Matej Kovar – Arthur, Jonathan Tah, Mario Hermoso, Piero Hincapié – Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Grimaldo – Amine Adli, Nathan Tella

Bayern Munich:

Jonas Urbig – Konrad Laimer, Min-Jae Kim, Dayot Upaemcano, Alphonso Davies – Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka – Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman – Harry Kane

GGFN | Jack Meenan