After impressing in Europe, Leverkusen held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday. The result followed a 2-0 win over Manchester City and a 2-2 draw with Newcastle, highlighting the potential of Kasper Hjulmand's young squad.
Yet domestically, Leverkusen have faltered against smaller teams. Following a December victory over RB Leipzig that saw them climb to third, the side have won just two of their past six Bundesliga matches and now sit sixth, three points off the Champions League places. Hjulmand faces the challenge of keeping his squad focused in a season where summer spending has raised expectations.
Captain Robert Andrich acknowledged the demanding schedule: "That's what we're here for. We'll try to recover perfectly after each game and be 100 percent back, both physically and mentally. We're looking forward to Bayern – and also to heading to London."
Bayern arrive with an 11-point lead at the top but have injury concerns. Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Jonas Urbig, Manuel Neuer, and Hiroki Ito are all sidelined following their 6-1 Champions League win over Atalanta. Harry Kane is expected to return after a brief absence, needing 12 goals in the final nine league matches to surpass Robert Lewandowski's single-season record.
Leverkusen's clash with Bayern comes amid a packed schedule, with Premier League leaders Arsenal next on their agenda. A positive result at home could reignite their top-four hopes, while Bayern look to maintain their domestic dominance despite injury setbacks.
Xavi Espart was elated to make his debut appearance as a Barcelona player in the Champions League as a late substitute in the Round of 16 match against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Wednesday.
Sebastian Hoeness has admitted his side “briefly lost composure” during a costly spell as VfB Stuttgart slipped to a 2-1 defeat against FC Porto in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash on Thursday night.
David Moyes has urged Everton to maintain their momentum as the Premier League season enters its decisive final stretch, insisting his side will not "take their foot off the pedal" in the race for a strong finish.
Lamine Yamal missed training with FC Barcelona on Thursday after falling ill, raising brief concern for the club ahead of their upcoming clash with Sevilla FC over the weekend.
