Everything Inter should know about Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

As Inter prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Peter Young previews everything that the Nerazzurri should know about their upcoming Bundesliga opposition.

Dangerous Players: Wirtz on incredible Champions League form

Florian Wirtz is still the centre-piece in Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen team. The Germany international has been on incredible form in the Champions League this term as well, providing five goals and an assist from his first five appearances in the competition. He also has another five goals and four assists from 13 Bundesliga outings this term.

Victor Boniface is still the club’s leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga this term with six goals from 10 matches, but he has missed the team’s last five matches in all competitions with a hamstring injury, which means that Patrick Schick could start up front against Inter instead.

Florian Wirtz (3-R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the UEFA Champions League match between Feyenoord Rotterdam and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Feyenoord Stadion de Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 19 September 2024. EPA-EFE/MAURICE VAN STEEN

Leverkusen’s wing-backs are also a key component in Alonso’s system. Alejandro Grimaldo has two Champions league goals and an assist to his name this term, while Frimpong has one goal and two assists in Europe.

The midfield pairing of Robert Andrich and Granit Xhaka is still as strong and reliable as ever, while Jonathan Tah continues to impress at centre-back.

Leverkusen form so far

The Bundesliga outfit are on a five-game winning streak as things stand. They face Inter off the back of 2-1 league victory over St. Pauli, a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal, a 2-1 win over Union Berlin, a 5-0 thrashing of Salzburg in the Champions League and a 5-2 win over Heidenheim.

Alonso’s side are currently sixth in the Champions League having won three, drawn one and lost one of their first five games in the competition this season for a total of 10 points.

Victor Boniface scores the 1-0 opening goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in Leverkusen, Germany, 01 October 2024. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

Liverpool, who inflicted a 4-0 defeat, are the only team to beat Leverkusen in the Champions League this term.

Leverkusen have been on decent form in the Bundesliga as well, sitting third after 13 matches. They have not lost domestically since the 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig in the second week of the season.

Leverkusen have only lost two out of 21 matches in all competitions this season, and have technically only lost one of their last 18, against Liverpool.

Leverkusen and Inter: Head-to-Head results

Inter have won both of the last two meetings of the two sides in the Champions League, but they have not faced each other in over 20 years.

The only two times Inter and Leverkusen have met in the Champions League came during the 2002-03 season. The Champions League still featured a second group stage at that point.

Inter won both of their second group stage matches against Leverkusen that season: 3-2 at home in San Siro thanks to an own goal and a Luigi Di Biagio brace, then 2-0 in Germany through Obafemi Martins and Emre Belozoglu.