Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen (UEFA Champions League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch | OneFootball

Manchester City return to action on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium as they look to get back to winning ways in their fifth match of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase.

Last time out, City found themselves on the end of a deflating defeat against Newcastle, in a game that was a story of many missed opportunities by both sides and VAR controversy. But ultimately, a Harvey Barnes brace proved decisive in earning the Magpies all three points.

After a very chaotic hour and the game at a stalemate, the home side opened the scoring, taking the lead through their No.11 as Barnes unleashed a venomous, precise strike into the bottom corner following a poor clearance which put City in a dangerous situation.

A sublime finish by Harvey Barnes that left Gianluigi Donnarumma helpless and putting his team a goal up with 63 minutes on the clock. Five minutes later, City restored hopes as an optimistic strike from Ruben Dias sailed through multiple bodies and into the net.

The Blues’ ecstasy was short-lived, though, as in the 70th minute Barnes would prove to be the undoing of City yet again, taking advantage of some fundamentally poor defending following a corner which caused chaos in the box, allowing him to hammer home from close range.

That goal would eventually prove to be the difference between the sides securing a huge three points for Eddie Howe’s side and handing Manchester City a tough defeat on the road, making it just two league wins from a possible six away from the Etihad Stadium this season.

Now though, attentions turn to the UEFA Champions League in midweek as Manchester City host Bayer Leverkusen, looking to bounce back from that disappointing result at the weekend. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the latest league phase clash!

Match Details

Manchester City welcome visitors Bayer Leverkusen to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 25 November, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK).

Match Officials

UEFA have confirmed that João Pinheiro will oversee proceedings on Tuesday night, whilst fellow Portuguese official Tiago Martins will be the VAR.

Check out the full list of match officials below!

Team News

For Manchester City, it is a welcome sight for Pep Guardiola as the list of absentees for this clash remains trim. Mateo Kovacic will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, having undergone further surgery on an ongoing Achilles injury.

However, the fitness of previous Ballon D’Or winner Rodri remains a concern with the Spaniard ruled out and Pep Guardiola offering a word of caution over the defensive midfielder’s return timeframe during his pre-match press conference.

For the visitors, the list of those unavailable to feature in Manchester is rather extensive. Robert Andrich is suspended after receiving a straight red card in their last continental outing against Paris Saint-Germain.

Axel Tape-Kobrissa picked up a hamstring injury in October and is a doubt, whilst Lucas Vazquez and Exequiel Palacios are suffering with longer-term problems and will almost certainly be ruled out.

Press Conference Quotes

Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remain ruled out for Manchester City against Bayer Leverkusen, with the rest of the squad fit and available, says Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola on Rodri’s recovery timeframe: “Not long. Not sure, but not long. We are in the process, and the timing that he will be back, and when he will be back we will wait a little, little bit more to be sure that he’s fine.”

Pep Guardiola: “It’s immediately forgotten [defeat to Newcastle]. There were a little thoughts about what happened, but it’s massively important [vs Bayer Leverkusen]. We’re halfway in our group stage, an incredibly good four games. Even against Monaco we played outstanding and now we start the last four; two at home, two away. Tomorrow, third in the Bundesliga, massively important to finish what we want to, in the first eight. Winning tomorrow and one more point we’ll be qualified for the next round, in front of 24 teams… Tomorrow is important, and the focus is on what we have to do.”

Pep Guardiola on taking charge of his 100th UEFA Champions League game at Manchester City: “I realise I’m getting old. Every weekend is a milestone, it’s quite good. It means every season we’ve been there. The only team in England from the last nine, 10 years every season there. Hopefully next season we’ll be there too. A huge competition, so nice, special for players, they love it, managers, everyone. To challenge yourself against the best in Europe is an incredibly huge experience. For the club, in terms of reputation, prestige, financially, it’s massively important.”

Pep Guardiola on Claudio Echeverri’s loan at Bayer Leverkusen: “We have an incredible appreciation about him, and what happened you have to ask, I don’t know because I’m not involved and didn’t speak with him. I’m pretty sure his agent will know everything than everyone.”

Pep Guardiola on recalling Claudio Echeverri from his Bayer Leverkusen loan in January: “It’s a question for his beautiful agent.”

Head to Head

This is the first-ever meeting between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen in a competitive contest, having never faced off against each other in UEFA competition before.

Statistics

Bayer Leverkusen will be the eighth different German team that Manchester City have faced in European competition, in their 39th match against German opposition (P38 W24 D6 L8 to date).

Manchester City have only lost one of their last 24 games against German teams in the UEFA Champions League (W19 D4), suffering defeat at RB Leipzig in December 2021 (1-2). The Citizens have scored 67 goals across these 24 matches, at an average of 2.8 per game.

Manchester City have won their last 13 home games against German opposition in the UEFA Champions League by an aggregate score of 49-13. The last German side to avoid defeat there in the competition is Bayern Munich in October 2013 (3-1) – then managed by Pep Guardiola.

This will be Pep Guardiola’s 100th UEFA Champions League game in charge of Manchester City (P99 W62 D19 L18), making him just the third manager to oversee 100+ games with an English team in the European Cup/Champions League, after Alex Ferguson (190 with Manchester United) and Arsène Wenger (177 with Arsenal).

Manchester City have not trailed at any point in the Champions League this season, and have led for 62% of their total match time (239:45). In over two hours when their matches have been level (146:43), Pep Guardiola’s side have had 41 shots and only faced two in return (+39).

Manchester City rank first in the Champions League this season for successful passes (2,511), pass accuracy (91.9%), 10+ pass sequences in open play (95), passes per sequence (6.2). They are the only team who haven’t conceded a single opposition fast break in the current edition.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland could make his 50th start in the UEFA Champions League here (currently on 49). The Norwegian will hold the record for most goals scored within a player’s first 50 starts in the competition, even if he doesn’t find the net in this match (50).

24 of Erling Haaland’s 31 goals for Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League have been first time finishes (77%), with his total of 24 being the most by any player in the competition since the start of 2022-23.

How to Watch

For those based in the United Kingdom, the game will be accessible via TNT Sports and Discovery+, with action getting underway from 20:00 GMT.

Those watching from the United States will be able to broadcast the game live on Paramount+ from 15:00 EST.

Check out the full global TV listings HERE!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on our X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram channels throughout matchday, with content also provided on cityxtra.co.uk!