Softfootball previews the Champions League clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg, offering insights into predictions, team news, and potential lineups for the BayArena showdown.
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On Tuesday evening, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg meet in the Champions League after experiencing contrasting results in their most recent European outings.
This fixture brings an intriguing managerial duel, with Xabi Alonso—Leverkusen’s rising star—facing Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant at Liverpool, now leading Salzburg.
Match Preview
Leverkusen heads into this match after a bruising 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month.
While the Bundesliga leaders managed to frustrate the Reds for over an hour, their defense crumbled late in the game as Luis Diaz stole the show with a hat trick.
That defeat marked their first loss in the Champions League this season, leaving them in a respectable 13th position with seven points from four matches.
However, Die Werkself bounced back in style on Saturday with a resounding 5-2 victory over Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.
Patrik Schick’s hat trick powered the win, ending a three-game winless streak and extending their unbeaten home run to seven matches across all competitions.
Since August, Leverkusen has only suffered one defeat at home, and their 11 European victories since the start of the 2023–24 season remain unmatched across the continent.
Meanwhile, Salzburg is still trying to find consistency. The Austrian side secured a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Feyenoord earlier this month, their first Champions League win this season.
Despite this success, they remain in 30th place and outside the playoff positions. Domestically, Salzburg has faltered, suffering back-to-back defeats to Blau-Weiss Linz and LASK Linz, leaving them 14 points adrift of Austrian Bundesliga leaders Sturm Graz.
Tuesday’s game marks the first-ever meeting between Leverkusen and Salzburg. Historically, Leverkusen has performed well against Austrian teams, winning three and drawing two of their five encounters.
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen:
Leverkusen faces significant injury concerns in attack. Victor Boniface (hip), Jonas Hofmann (hip), and Amine Adli (leg) are unavailable, while Martin Terrier (broken arm) has been ruled out for the rest of 2024.
Jeremie Frimpong also sustained a knee injury over the weekend, further complicating matters on the right flank.
Nathan Tella is expected to deputize for Frimpong, with Aleix Garcia and Florian Wirtz supporting Patrik Schick up front.
Red Bull Salzburg:
Salzburg will welcome back goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, returning from a European suspension. However, Janis Blaswich (calf) remains sidelined alongside several others, including Bryan Okoh, Leandro Morgalla, and Takumu Kawamura.
Karim Konate, who scored twice against Feyenoord, will lead the attack, supported by the talented Oscar Gloukh.
Predicted Lineups:
- Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Tella, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Garcia, Wirtz; Schick.
- Red Bull Salzburg (4-3-3): Schlager; Dedic, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Terzic; Diambou, Gourna-Douath, Clark; Nene, Konate, Gloukh.
Prediction
Salzburg’s victory against Feyenoord showed promise, but their domestic struggles suggest they lack the consistency to compete at the highest level.
Even with Leverkusen missing key attackers, their firepower and home advantage should prove decisive.
Expect Xabi Alonso’s side to secure a commanding win and strengthen their Champions League campaign.
