An all German clash sees six-time Champions League winners and first leg host Bayern Munich take on Bundesliga holders Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16.
BAY vs LEV Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 5 March 2025 / Thursday, 6 March 2025
Time: 21:00 (CET), 01:30 (IST)
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
BAY vs LEV Match Preview
Bayern Munich had to labour through the playoffs after getting past a stubborn Celtic team that threatened an early elimination from the Champions League. The Bavarians could only settle for the 12th spot in the 36-team League Phase table with five wins from eight matches and three losses. Nevertheless, the 2-1 win at Scotland in the next round seemed to have confirmed their place in the last-16 until former academy product Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn gave them a minor heart attack by levelling the score on aggregate in the home leg. The Bavarians found a way out of it with a late scrappy goal from Alphonso Davies to keep hold of their destination. However, the team would like to improve their performance as they face a familiar foe in the last-16 stage of the competition in Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso’s side ended Bayern’s 11-year monopoly on the Bundesliga, winning the league unbeaten last season and restricting them twice this term. Despite this, Vincent Kompany's team is regaining its position in the league, leading by eight points over the defending champion. Revenge will be on the cards as Bayern look to avoid another disappointment in the hands of their title rivals with Europe the stage this time.
Bayer Leverkusen will not be concerned with logging heads against the record Bundesliga winners knowing their manager, a legend for the opposition, has not lost this fixture with the 0-0 result in the recent league meetings extending that record to six games. Unlike their counterpart, Die Werkself did not navigate through the playoffs as they qualified for the last-16 directly after finishing sixth in the League Phase table. The side put up an excellent display with five wins and losing just twice, although those came against title favourites, a 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool and a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Both results came away from home, so they can’t be complacent about their record against Bayern despite being unbeaten in 29 away games in the Bundesliga. The league leaders also seem untouchable, so the Champions League and DFB Pokal seem to be the only realistic options for Alonso’s men and want to send a statement again by winning this tie. Avoiding defeat will be the main objective in this away leg, to ensure they have something to build on in the Bayer Arena, where they have only lost once in all competitions. This will be the first meeting between the sides in Europe with the bragging rights being higher than before.
BAY vs LEV Recent Form (all competitions)
BAY: WDWW
LEV: WDDWW
BAY vs LEV Recent Form (all competitions)
BAY: WLWWD
LEV: LWWLW
BAY vs LEV Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich
Neuer; Laimer, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Bayer Leverkusen
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Tella, Schick, Wirtz
BAY vs LEV Dream11 Match Prediction
Bayern and Leverkusen have shown equal qualities in recent meetings, with their European ventures expected to be no different. We predict a 1-1 draw between the sides.
BAY vs LEV Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Bruno Harry Kane
Vice-captain Picks: Florian Wirtz, Michael Olise
Our top-picks for the BAY vs LEV Dream11 team are Harry Kane with seven goals to his name in the Champions League this season and Florian Wirtz with six goals. The other option could be Michael Olise who has registered five.
BAY vs LEV Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Neuer (Cr - 7, Pts - 83)
DEF: Grimaldo (Cr - 9, Pts - 181), Mukiele (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 114), Davies (Cr - 9, Pts - 140)
MID: Olise (Cr - 9, Pts - 134), Wirtz (Cr - 9, Pts - 201), Xhaka (Cr - 8), Musiala (Cr - 8.5), Sane (Cr - 8)
FW: Schick (Cr - 8), Kane (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Florian Wirtz
Captain: Harry Kane
