Preview, form guide, head-to-head record, team news and full broadcast details for Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal in the Champions League clash at the BayArena
Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal meet at the BayArena on Wednesday, March 11, for the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
The Gunners arrive in Germany following a historic league phase where they became the first team in the new format to finish with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen secured their spot in the knockout stages following a successful play-off round against Olympiacos.
While Arsenal are currently the tournament favourites with many bookmakers, the German side remains a dangerous opponent at home, looking to recapture the form that saw them stun Europe in recent seasons.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: form guide
Arsenal enter the knockout stages as one of the most in-form teams in Europe. They have won four of their last five matches, most recently grinding out a 1-2 victory against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup despite heavy rotation.
Their European record this season is flawless, with 24 points from 24 available and a commanding +19 goal difference.
Bayer Leverkusen’s form has been more erratic. They have won just one of their last five matches, including a frantic 3–3 draw with Freiburg last weekend where they surrendered a late lead.
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Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: head-to-head
The competitive history between these two sides is limited but favors the North London club. Their most recent meeting was a pre-season friendly in August 2024, which Arsenal won convincingly 4–1.
In official UEFA competition, they last met in the 2001/02 second group stage, where Arsenal recorded a 4–1 home win and a 1–1 draw in Germany.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: team news
For Leverkusen, Janis Blaswich is expected to start in goal as Mark Flekken remains sidelined along with Loic Bade, Arthur, Lucas Vazquez, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Nathan Tella, with Patrik Schick a major doubt.
Meanwhile, Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, Ben White, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori are doubtful for the Gunners, with Mikel Merino being out due to long-term injury.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: predicted line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen predicted line‑up (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Aleix García, Palacios, Grimaldo; Terrier, Maza; Kofane
Arsenal predicted line‑up (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Mosquera, Hincapié; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyökeres
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal: When and where to watch in US & UK
For viewers in the United States, the Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal Champions League match is scheduled for Wednesday with coverage available through Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Network. Kick-off is set for 18:45 CET (13:45 ET / 10:45 PT).
In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live via TNT Sports 3, with coverage starting at 17:00 GMT ahead of the 17:45 GMT kick-off. Streaming is available for subscribers via the discovery+ app, and live audio commentary will be provided on the official Arsenal app.