Bayer Leverkusen have returned to the summit of the German and European game over the last three years. Bundesliga champions in 2024, after a remarkable undefeated campaign, the club presided over by Fernando Carro, ended Bayern Munich's run of 11 straight championships, before finishing runners-up last year. This excellent domestic form has been accompanied by a rise in Europe as well, reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2023 and the final in 2024, before finishing sixth in the UCL league phase last season.
It promises to be a tough challenge for Paris Saint-Germain who are looking for a third consecutive win in this season's Champions League, after a big 4-0 win over Atalanta at the Parc des Princes and the thrilling 2-1 triumph away to FC Barcelona.
6 – A win in Germany would see Paris Saint-Germain equal a club record six consecutive Champions League victories, set between September and December 1994.
34 – Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) has made 34 line-breaking passes in the Champions League this season; no defender has done better since the start of the competition.
66 – Paris coach Luis Enrique boasts a 66% success rate in the Champions League, the highest of any coach with more than 50 matches on the bench in the competition.
Kasper Hjulmand could well line-up in a 5-3-2 formation. Dutch international Mark Flekken is expected to start in goal. In defence, Edmond Tapsoba will likely be partnered by France international Loïc Badé who joined this season from FC Sevilla. However the third central defender remains uncertain with an injury cloud over Englishman Jarell Quansah. If he is missing, captain Robert Andrich could drop down into defence, ahead of the France youth international Jeanuël Belocian, while former Parisian youth product Axel Tape is out.
The experienced Lucas Vázquez (78 Champions League matches) is also a doubt for the right wing-back position and could be replaced by Brazil international Arthur Soares. The everpresent and indispensable Alejandro Grimaldo will be on the left. In midfield, B04 will again be without a number of regulars: Argentine international Exequiel Palacios is injured and could be replaced by compatriot Equi Fernández.
The keys to midfield will handed to Spanish international Aleix García. Up front, summer signing Malik Tillman will be missing. The American is a big loss for Leverkusen, who will also be without German international Jonas Hofmann, and could field the explosive Ernest Poku on the right wing. This would open up a starting spot on the left flank, which could come back to former Monaco player Eliesse Ben Seghir. Former Rennes player Martin Terrier made a triumphant return from injury last weekend but, like Hofmann, is not eligible for the competition.
Nigerian international Nathan Tella is uncertain due to a knee injury, which should allow 19-year-olds Ibrahim Maza and Claudio Echeverri to see some minutes. In the central striking role, the German club is holding its breath over the availability of centre forward Patrik Schick. The Czech international is the spearhead of B04's offence, having scored 85 goals in 175 appearances for the German side. If he is ultimately unable to start the match, the talented Christian Kofane (four goals and two assists in ten matches this season) will take his place in the starting line-up.
