Arsenal visits the BayArena tonight as the favorites to win the Champions League after a perfect run in the league phase.
The Gunners set a high standard, winning all eight of their matches. They also lead in both attacking and defensive stats in the tournament.
Mikel Arteta’s team arrives in Germany in strong form, currently unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions. They are also seven points ahead in the Premier League.
Last weekend, a rotated squad convincingly defeated Mansfield Town in the FA Cup. Now, the North London side aims to break a historical trend, looking to overcome German opposition in knockout rounds.
Bayer Leverkusen made it to this stage after a strong playoff win against Olympiacos, although they had a mixed performance in the league phase. Under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, the team has struggled with consistency, winning only one of their last five matches in all competitions.
Despite this, the BayArena is a tough venue for visitors. Leverkusen is currently on a six-match unbeaten streak at home and has conceded only one goal in their last 540 minutes of play. They enter this match as underdogs but carry confidence from their unbeaten record against Premier League teams this season, including a significant win over Manchester City.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
- Kick-off: 17:45 GMT
- Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Referee: Umut Meler
- VAR: Rob Dieperink
- Last Meeting: Arsenal 4–1 Bayer Leverkusen (7 Aug 2024, Club Friendly)
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen
Kasper Hjulmand faces a tough situation with several injuries heading into this match. Mark Flekken (knee), Nathan Tella (foot), and Loïc Badé (hamstring) are all out. Patrik Schick will undergo a late fitness test for a muscle issue but is likely to play. Alejandro Grimaldo has been a key player, creating 23 chances in the competition—12 more than any teammate.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is set to welcome back David Raya, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Magalhães after resting them last weekend. However, William Saliba (ankle), Martin Ødegaard (knee), and Ben White (knock) may not be available. Viktor Gyökeres will lead the attack, having scored 10 goals in 14 Champions League appearances. Plus, Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapié can play against his parent club and is expected to start.
Form
Bayer Leverkusen
Die Werkself have shown solid defense in Europe, keeping clean sheets in their last three Champions League matches. Despite sitting in sixth place in the Bundesliga, they have lost only one of their last 12 matches. Hjulmand’s squad is increasingly relying on their left flank, with 43% of their chances coming from that side. Historically, they have a strong record against English clubs, progressing in four of their five major European knockout matches against them.
Arsenal
The Gunners have set a club record with eight consecutive wins in the Champions League and have not trailed in any match this season. Their away performance is equally impressive, remaining unbeaten in their last 13 road games across all competitions. Defensively, Jurriën Timber has excelled, having the lowest “dribbled past” percentage (7.4%) among players with over 50 tackles in the tournament.
Predicted Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Garcia, Fernandez, Grimaldo; Maza, Terrier; Kofane
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres
How to Watch Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 3, with coverage starting at 17:00 GMT ahead of the 17:45 kick-off.
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