Bayer Leverkusen vs. Newcastle United: 10/12/25 @ 20:00 (TNT Sport)

[HaydnNUFC]

BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN
@

BAYARENA

 

It got to a point during the Champions League draw back in August where I thought that they were giving us so many sides we've played before in Europe that they'd pull out Anzhi, Maritimo or AZ Alkmaar at one point. It's why I thought of the last time out parts of these previews. Until we beat Union SG earlier this campaign this was the site of our most recent away CL win. With a bit of a patched up side admittedly, but they were honking at the time. As I'll revisit below;

 

LAST TIME OUT?

Our much fan renowned 2002-03 Champions League campaign saw us qualify for the second group stage (aye, there were two group stages between 1999-00 and 2002-03. A format that I'd prefer to this one if they're so desperate for more games) where we were joined by Barcelona, Inter and this lot. 

 

Leverkusen had in 2001-02 reached the Champions League final, that they lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in Glasgow. They also finished 2nd in the Bundesliga, but in 2002-03 their form dropped off a cliff. Though they boasted some players like Dimitar Berbatov (who was not in the squad for either game against us) they could only manage a 15th placed finish in the Bundesliga and finished rock bottom of this second group stage, losing all 6 games. We went into the trip to the BayArena off the back of 2 defeats to start our second gorup stage. Again.  Getting battered 1-4 at SJP by Inter where Bellamy was sent off and Shearer was suspended for elbowing Cannavaro and a loss at the Camp Nou. With Leverkusen's domestic form and them also losing their opening two games, we had to go there and win despite having no Shearer or Bellamy.

 

The .com report with some great pictures.

 

And of course, the 3-1 win we came away with;

 

 

The teams that night;

B04: Butt, Preuss, Cris, Simak, Basturk, Franca, Balitsch, Ojigwe, Brdaric, Neuville, Kleine 

NUFC: Given, Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard, Dyer, Jenas, Speed, Robert, LuaLua, Ameobi

 

WHAT ABOUT THEM NOW?

Leverkusen famously went an entire season unbeaten in all competitions up until the Europe League final in 2023-24 under Xabi Alonso and being the first club not called Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund to win the title in Germany since 2009. It was the first title in their history and they also managed to complete the domestic German double. Their first trophies since 1993. Last season they were able to finish 2nd and retain the German Cup.

 

This season however has been one of change. Many of their big players have left; Wirtz, Frimpong, Tah, Adli and Xhaka. And Xabi Alonso left to manage Real Madrid, replacing him with that bald Dutch pervert Erik ten Hairs who only managed to oversee 3 (three) first team matches before getting sacked.  They replaced him with Kasper Hjulmand who most recently managed Denmark before them. Since then they've done okay. They've only lost 4 domestic matches and currently lie 4th in the Bundesliga. They did however lose their most recent match, 2-0 away at Augsburg on Saturday.

 

Their CL form is a bit more indifferent however. They have won 2 matches, 0-1 away at Benfica and 0-2 away at a much changed Man City, drawn 2 to Copenhagen and PSV and lost 2. One of those defeats was a 7-2 home defeat to PSG.

 

HOW WELL DO WE DO IN GERMANY?

2023-24; lost 2-0 v Dortmund (Champions League)

2006-07; drew 0-0 v Eintracht Frankfurt (UEFA Cup)

2002-03; won 3-1 v Bayer Leverkusen

2001-02; won 3-2 v 1860 Munich (Intertoto Cup)

 

ANY TIES BETWEEN THE CLUBS?

One of the club's from Malick Thiaw's youth football days was Leverkusen, though he was only there for a year at the age of 9-10. Other than that, no player has played for both clubs and no manager has managed both clubs.

 

A big chance for us to basically get ourselves in the seeded part of the knockout play off stage but a win here and I don't see why, with PSV to come and a trip to PSG who may have alerady qualified, we can't make a push to get into the top 8. Another trip where I'm jealous of those going, here's hoping yous bring 3 points back.

 

Howay the lads!

[James]

Hope Cris is coming out of retirement for this.

[Sibierski]

Start of a monumental week. Win here and back it up at Sunderland, suddenly our season is looking REALLY good as we go into a home QF against Fulham.

 

Really no middle ground. Team for me, 5-2-3

 

Ramsdale: Murphy, Thaiw, Schar, Burn, Hall: Joelinton, Bruno: Gordon, Wissa, Elanga

 

Reason, Tino rested, counter best way to exploit Bundesliga defences.

[joeyt]

Just now, Sibierski said:

Start of a monumental week. Win here and back it up at Sunderland, suddenly our season is looking REALLY good as we go into a home QF against Fulham.

 

Really no middle ground. Team for me, 5-2-3

 

Ramsdale: Murphy, Thaiw, Schar, Burn, Hall: Joelinton, Bruno: Gordon, Wissa, Elanga

 

Reason, Tino rested, counter best way to exploit Bundesliga defences.

 

Tonali?

[Sibierski]

1 minute ago, joeyt said:

 

Tonali?

 

Toss up between him and Joelinton, rather Tonali is rested because he's shown signs of needing a rest. 

 

Rather have a fully fit Tonali than a fully fit Joelinton come the Derby. That game won't be won on who's the strongest, it's on who can show the quality.

[nufc123]

Tonali has been rested for almost two games. Other than his injury he should start.

[RodneyCisse]

Tonali to start, big Nick ready to swing his dick back in Germany!

[STM]

Ramsdale

 

Tino

Thiaw

Burn

Hall

 

Tonali

Bruno

Joelinton 

 

Murphy

Woltamade

Barnes

 

Although I think Miley might start for Bruno.

[Dokko]

               Ramsdale

      Schar Lascelles Burn

Murphy                     Joelinton

      Miley  Tonali  Willock

                Ramsey

                 Neave

 

Bring on Wolt & Wissa for the striker and support for the final 20. Couldn't care less of the outcome. 

[TRC]

Is Grimaldo fit for them? Hes probably the best set peice taker in the world right now and he didn’t play at the weekend 

[SteV]

7 minutes ago, TRC said:

Is Grimaldo fit for them? Hes probably the best set peice taker in the world right now and he didn’t play at the weekend 

“Small injury” apparently. Sounds like he’ll probably play.

[Lush Vlad]

15 minutes ago, Dokko said:

               Ramsdale

      Schar Lascelles Burn

Murphy                     Joelinton

      Miley  Tonali  Willock

                Ramsey

                 Neave

 

Bring on Wolt & Wissa for the striker and support for the final 20. Couldn't care less of the outcome. 

TBG lite. 

[Lush Vlad]

13 minutes ago, TRC said:

Is Grimaldo fit for them? Hes probably the best set peice taker in the world right now and he didn’t play at the weekend 

Dreading corners already. 

[joeyt]

12 minutes ago, SteV said:

“Small injury” apparently. Sounds like he’ll probably play.

 

Penis injury was it?

 

[SUPERTOON]

These any good ?

[Disco]

14 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

These any good ?

Blow hot and cold. One of them that could be any score.

[The Prophet]

Could use something here to take the pressure off that PSV game.

[ExiledGeordie]

Lost last two league games, beatable if we turn up. 

[Decky]

A draw would be a great result here. 

[mattypnufc]

Into these fucking cuuuuunts. 

[Fenham Mag]

These have just lost to Ausberg, who were in the bottom 3 before the weekend.

 

I'm confident. 

[Beren]

A solid defensive showing/clean sheet would be delightful.

 

[El Prontonise]

Yeah a clean sheet would be nice.

[Gallowgate Toon]

They still play 3/5 at the back? Wonder if we try and match their shape a bit here, keeping rotation in mind.

 

                  Ramsdale

 

        Thiaw   Schar   Burn

 

Murphy  Tonali   Joelinton   Hall

 

  Elanga   Woltemade   Barnes

[deejeck]

Achtung herben.