Bayer Leverkusen host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night.
Roger Schmidt’s team currently sit in sixth place in the Bundesliga following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Augsburg, although they have only won eight of their 22 league matches so far this season.
And although Leverkusen did make it all the way to the final of Europe’s premier club competition back in 2002, the club have failed to reach the quarter-finals since that achievement.
The La Liga champions, meanwhile, arrive in Germany having lost only one of their last nine Champions League knockout fixtures, and that was in last season’s final to city-rivals Real Madrid.
And with Atletico having also not conceded in the competition in the last 467 minutes, the longest current run in the Champions League, Leverkusen know what a tough task awaits them at the BayArena.
Team news
For Leverkusen, Omer Toprak is suspended following his dismissal in the group clash with Benfica, while Robbie Kruse, Tin Jedvaj and Lars Bender are both expected to miss out. Gonzalo Castro, Simon Rolfes and Giulio Dona could deputise.
Spanish midfielder Koke is still on the sidelines for Atletico and Tiago is a doubt, but Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic are expected to continue their partnership in attack.
Opta stats
Leverkusen and Atletico’s only previous encounters were in the 2010/11 Europa League group stages. Both games ended 1-1.
Atletico have made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the second consecutive season, a first in their history. They lost 4-1 after extra-time against Madrid in last year’s final.
Leverkusen have lost their last seven games in the Champions League knockout stages (six goals for, 24 against).
Leverkusen have failed to score in the last 197 minutes in the Champions League, longest current drought among the 16 teams left in this season’s tournament.
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