adminLEVERKUSEn. — Bayer Leverkusen must break their six-match losing streak against reigning champions Barcelona tonight if they are to have any chance of reaching the Champions League’s knock-out stages.
Leverkusen lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou in October, despite taking a shock lead, and want to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 pounding Barcelona dished out to Roma a fortnight ago when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi ran riot in the home match.
Roger Schmidt’s Leverkusen face the uphill task of having to beat Barcelona and hope Roma drop points at home to BATE in tonight’s other game in order to leap the Italians in the group and snatch a place in the last 16.
Leverkusen’s captain Lars Bender faces a race to be fit as he tries to shake off an ankle injury. The Germans are looking to reach the last 16 for the third year running, but have not won in Group E since beating BATE 4-1 in September. — AFP.
Online Reporter