Champions League preview
February 23, 2015
Bayer Leverkusen overcame tough competition in Zenit St. Petersburg and Benfica to emerge from one of the lowest-scoring groups in Champions League history alongside AS Monaco. They now welcome La Liga champions Atletico Madrid to the BayArena on Wednesday and will be looking for a change in fortune at this stage of the competition, having never won a Round of 16 tie in the Champions League.
After scoring just seven goals in their six group games, Leverkusen progressed thanks to a solid defensive display, conceding just four goals overall. This success was matched with a steady climb up the Bundesliga table in October and November, but Bayer have hit a blip of late and coach Roger Schmidt will hope Europe can provide some the answers.
"We did a lot to qualify for the Champions League and for the knockouts and we want to continue playing in this tournament this season," said Schmidt at a press conference on Tuesday. "(But the) Bundesliga and the Champions League are two very different competitions, so our motivations for each are different."
Unreal Madrid
Atletico were La Liga champions and losing Champions League finalists last year, and have been dominant once again in Europe this season. Finishing ahead of Juventus with just a single loss to Olympiacos in their opening group game, many of their hopes will be resting with in-form striker Antoine Greizmann, who has 14 goals in as many Spanish league games.
"Atletico are a very good team, who didn't make it to the final last year without reason," said Schmidt of Wednesday's opposition. "No-one in Spain likes to play against them - not even Real Madrid."
The less illustrious of the Spanish capital clubs have won five and lost just one of their nine Champions League away games since September 2013, and have emerged victorious on each of the last five occasions they have met German opposition over two legs.
"We want to convince our supporters that although we are not favourites, we still have a chance," said Schmidt.
Leverkusen lacking knockout punch
After losing 5-4 to Wolfsburg on Matchday 21 despite coming back from 3-0 down to 4-4 with only seconds remaining, Leverkusen twice threw away a lead to draw 2-2 at Augsburg on Saturday - with home goalkeeper Marwin Hitz netting the late leveler.
"We've digested the Augsburg game, but we have to be so focused that it doesn't happen again," said midfielder Gonzalo Castro at Tuesday's press conference.
In attempting to shore up his side Schmidt must do without defender Omer Toprak, who is suspended for the first leg of the tie against Atletico.
"We have a lot of quality in the team and we want to go as far as possible," the 25-year-old told UEFA.com. "We all want to play as many Champions League matches as we can."
As well as Toprak, Leverkusen will be without Robbie Kruse due to long term injury, whilst Lars Bender and Tin Jedvaj face late fitness tests. For Atletico, Koke and Tiago are both doubtful with muscle strains.
Dortmund 2-1 down but by no means out
The last time Borussia Dortmund made a European outing, it was their well-documented slump in domestic form that was dominating the headlines. While that Bundesliga form appears to have turned a corner after three consecutive wins, they could have been forgiven for approaching their last 16 tie against runaway Italian league leaders Juventus on Tuesday with some caution.
Coach Jürgen Klopp, however, had other ideas, and fielded an attack-minded line-up with Ciro Immobile brought in to face his former club. It may not have reaped dividends, but Klopp and Dortmund can be satisfied with a 2-1 reverse after a crucial away goal from man-of-the-moment Marco Reus.
apc/pwh (dpa, AP)