Manchester City host Bayer Leverkusen in the league phase of 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would lift Man City to the summit for at least 24 hours, whilst Bayer Leverkusen can climb into the seeded side of the play-off positions with a win.
Team News
Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Newcastle.
Rodri (thigh) and Mateo Kovacic (ankle) remain absent.
Bayer Leverkusen will be without Robert Andrich and Edmond Tapsoba due to a red card and accumulation of yellow cards respectively.
Arthur (back), Equi Fernandez (ligament), Exequiel Palacios (adductor), Axel Tape (hamstring). Alejandro Grimaldo and Lucas Vazquez (both muscle) remain sidelined.
Jonas Hofmann and Alejo Sarco are ineligible.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Bayer Leverkusen at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 25 November at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Man City’s first competitive meeting against Bayer Leverkusen.
- Bayer Leverkusen are making their first competitive visit to Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
- Four of Man City’s six goals at home in the league phase were scored by Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, who had both scored two goals apiece.
- Tapsoba has been booked in each of Bayer Leverkusen’s two away league phase fixtures (W1, D1).
Prediction
Having uncharacteristically rushed several chances in their defeat at Newcastle, Man City just need to regroup and focus on putting together a more polished end product because they otherwise had done everything else right in terms of attacking play amidst small defensive errors.
Leverkusen meanwhile have been defensively vulnerable in the league phase aside from their 1-0 victory at Benfica and they will need another clinical effort here, particularly because this is going to be a tough ask for them to keep a frustrated City quiet and especially Erling Haaland.
As much as I hope that Leverkusen can take the fight to City, I just can’t see Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens losing this at home such is their home form this season.
Prediction: Man City 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Result: Man City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen