Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

Both sides are separated by one point, with the German team sitting 17th with eight points, two points off the top eight, while the English side are 11th with nine points.

Leverkusen have already taken down one English side, beating Manchester City 2-0 in November, and that was their second successive win without conceding in the competition.

If the German side record another victory here without conceding a goal, it would be a first in their history in the UCL.

However, Kasper Hjulmand’s side are not in great form coming into this, having lost two of their last three matches, the latest being a 2-0 defeat at Augsburg over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have started to find their footing this season, with the weekend’s 2-1 win over Burnley being their seventh win in the last 11 matches in all competitions (1D, 3L).

However, one of those losses was in their last UCL game – a 2-1 defeat at Marseille – which brought an end to their run of three straight European wins without conceding.

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Newcastle won on the two occasions they have faced Leverkusen, securing 3-1 victories in each of the legs back in 2002-03.

Leverkusen’s midfielder Exequiel Palacios is sidelined due to a groin injury. Alex Grimado (knock), Lucas (muscle) and Axel Tape (hamstring) are also going to miss out due to injuries.

Aaron Ramsdale is expected to continue in goal for Newcastle as a result of Nick Pope’s muscle issue. Kieran Trippier, Will Osula, Emil Krafth, and Sven Botman are all also out injured.

Bayer Leverkusen: Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Belocian; Poku, Garcia, Maza, Grimaldo; Tillman, Kofane; Schick

Newcastle: Ramsdale; Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon

Calling a full-time result here is a bit tricky, but what we expect for certain is for both teams to find the net and for the game to produce at least three goals.

Correct score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle

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Betting tips:

• Both teams to score

• Over 3.5 goals

• First half over 1.5 goals