Bayer Leverkusen take on the visitors Newcastle in the round 6 match of UEFA Champions League – League Phase. The match will be played on Wednesday, December 10th at BayArena (Leverkusen).
Bayer won their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024 and, despite losing only in the Europa League to Atalanta, completed a golden double by lifting the domestic cup as well. But the following season brought the expected regression, dropping to second place in the Bundesliga, and in the summer both the architect of their success, Xabi Alonso, and several key figures departed. Understandably, challenges were inevitable, yet Ten Hag made matters even worse by causing internal friction at Leverkusen — and was dismissed by the end of summer. Fortunately for the club, his successor Juhlmand restored order swiftly. Slip-ups still occurred, with the 2–7 disaster against PSG standing out, but the team nevertheless produced strong displays in the Champions League. In the latest round they even defeated Manchester City 2–0. Recent results show that Bayer have regained balance and confidence, steadily improving their defensive stability after early setbacks. Their performances also suggest that the team is once again capable of dictating play against technically strong opponents.
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Newcastle leave a rather contradictory impression at the moment. The Magpies have undeniably progressed under their current manager, Howe. In his first full season at St James’ Park, he guided the team into the Champions League. Last season they claimed the League Cup, their first trophy in many years, and finished fifth in the Premier League, edging Aston Villa on head-to-head points. The summer brought a difficult start, partly due to Isak’s standoff. And now the Black and Whites remain inconsistent, even if the newcomer brought in to replace Woltemade has been performing well. The team can lose to Brentford and then immediately beat Manchester City. The same applies in the Champions League: after a 1–2 loss to Barcelona, they consecutively defeated Royale Union, Benfica and Athletic without conceding a single goal… only to fall 1–2 to Marseille in the latest round. Newcastle’s fluctuating form highlights their tendency to swing between high-intensity performances and unexpected lapses. Their recent matches show that while they thrive in fast-paced, aggressive setups, they still struggle to maintain control for sustained periods.
The clubs last met in February 2003, also in the Champions League. Back then, United won both matches with an identical 3–1 scoreline, home and away. This is an intriguing pairing that should deliver entertaining football. The expectation is a match ending with over 2.5 total goals.
Prediction for the match: Over 2.5 scored goals.
