Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle meet on Wednesday night in a Champions League fixture that could shape the rest of their European campaigns. Both sides are separated by just one point in the league phase standings, and the stakes are clear.
Leverkusen’s confidence stems partly from their impressive 2-0 win at Manchester City, a result covered by SoftFootball. Newcastle’s own mood has also been shaped by recent headlines, including Malick Thiaw’s standout performance against Everton.
The build-up to this match has been dominated by discussions around Nick Woltemade, whose adaptation to life in England has been rapid. His return to Germany adds a personal angle to this fixture, especially after his 17-goal season at Stuttgart.
Leverkusen arrive with mixed form. Their Bundesliga struggles have raised questions, but Europe tells a different story. Back-to-back clean sheets against Benfica and Manchester City underline their ability to manage big moments.
Patrik Schick is central to that confidence after scoring in consecutive Champions League games. Even so, injuries remain a concern, with Exequiel Palacios ruled out and Alejandro Grimaldo facing a late decision.
Newcastle’s league form has stabilised, and their recent 2-1 win over Burnley shows improved confidence. Eddie Howe praised Woltemade’s mentality and joked about his British humour, but more importantly, he described the forward as someone who embraced the expectations that came with his £74.3m move.
The manager also highlighted the challenge of facing Leverkusen, calling the game a measure of how far his team has come.
Team News
Leverkusen are missing Palacios, Lucas Vazquez and Janis Blaswich. Grimaldo remains doubtful. Newcastle remain without Trippier, Botman and Pope. Ramsdale is set to start.
Newcastle United shared a post on their official X account hyping their upcoming Champions League league phase match against Bayer Leverkusen via a 39-second training montage showing players in drills.
Watch the video below:
Possible Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Belocian; Poku, Garcia, Maza, Grimaldo; Tillman, Kofane; Schick.
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
SoftFootball’s Prediction
A competitive match is expected, but Newcastle’s pace in wide areas and Woltemade’s recent form could edge them ahead.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Newcastle.
