Leverkusen (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction
A huge five days lie ahead for Newcastle United.
While some can't help but keep one eye on Sunday's Tyne and Wear derby, a tough test and vital game in our Champions League campaign awaits tonight as we take on Bayer Leverkusen.
The Germans won 2-0 at Man City in their last UCL game, while Newcastle must bounce back from a defeat in Marseille last month, with results last night leaving us 15th in the league but able to go level on points with Inter Milan (5th), Atletico Madrid (7th) and Liverpool (8th) should we win and move up to 12 points.
Saturday's win over Burnley wasn't the convincing performance we hoped for, but did deliver the win we needed, making it 10 points from 12 in the league and setting us up nicely for a big week ahead, where two tough away trips await that could go a long way to defining the success of our busy December schedule.
Speaking ahead of the game at the BayArena, Eddie Howe said:
“It has been an intense week, finished the game on Saturday, and immediately prepare for the next one. Having to cram a lot of work into a short period of time. We are excited by this one, looking forward to the challenge, a tough game for us.”
“I think we will pick a team that will be strong tomorrow and strong on Sunday.
“We have a few injuries to our backline which has been there for a few games now, we don’t necessarily have the depth at the moment, but we come here with a strong squad and we are ready for both games this week.
“The best thing to keep players fit and fresh is to keep playing football. Unless rest is specifically designed for the individual, I don’t think rest at this stage of the season is productive.
“The best way to keep players fit and fresh is to keep playing football. Even if we do rotate players, they are still part of the group and a 20-30 minute cameo can do them good.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQhfUO4Vz3A
Team news
The usual suspects remain out, with Sven Botman (back), Nick Pope (groin) Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Emil Krafth (knee) all absent, and Will Osula (ankle) expected to be absent once again.
Yoane Wissa is back and likely to appear off the bench again in what would be his first Champions League appearance, with Lewis Hall (ill on Saturday) and Sandro Tonali both fit and available to start.
For Leverkusen, the club are 'confident' Alejandro Grimaldo will be return, with German international Robert Andrich back from a ban after he was sent off in their 7-2 defeat to PSG.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes.
OUT: Schar, Willock, Ramsey, Gordon IN: Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes.
Match prediction
Leverkusen lost Wirtz, Frimpong, Xhaka, Tah and Hincapie over the summer, with Ten Hag also struggling before Hjulmand took over and steadied the ship, winning seven of their last 11 in the Bundesliga and their last two in the Champions League.
They have picked up after a poor start and remain a dangerous side after winning 2-0 at Man City in matchday five. However, this is a Leverkusen side a level or two below where they've been at over the past two seasons, meaning we are more than capable of imposing ourselves, competing and coming away with a win; just like we did as Lomana Lua Lua and Shola Ameobi scored in a 3-1 win in Germany way back in 2003.
A win would be the dream result to get us back on the cusp of the top eight and send us to Sunderland on a high, while a point would be positive and preserve our momentum, and that's what I fancy us to get in an entertaining game at the BayArena.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
