Bayer Leverkusen will need a positive result to keep their knockout hopes alive in the Champions League when they take on Villarreal at the BayArena on Wednesday night.
View our Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal predictions below.
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Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal: Massive game for home side
Key stats
- Villarreal have lost their last three matches.
- Bayer Leverkusen have conceded first in four of their last five games.
- Fewer than five cards were awarded in five of the last seven Leverkusen games.
Correct score prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Villarreal
Bayer Leverkusen are 20th in the Champions League table, nine points from seven games, and they are still within touching distance of qualification.
Villarreal have lost six of their seven Champions League games, and have picked up only one point so far. For them, it is more about securing pride than anything else.
Leverkusen are heading into this game on the back of a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen after three defeats in a row, and they will be aiming to secure back-to-back wins.
Both sides have failed to keep a clean sheet in their recent matches, so we predict Leverkusen to narrowly edge their rivals, with both teams scoring.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bayer Leverkusen strong favourites
HOME: 3/5 (1.6) – 62.5%
DRAW: 10/3 (4.33) – 23.1%
AWAY: 4/1 (5.0) – 20%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Due to their relatively better performance in the Champions League than Villarreal, the bookies have picked Leverkusen as favourites for this game, and they are priced at 3/5 (1.6) with 62.5% chances of winning.
Bayer Leverkusen have been conceding first in four of their last five games, and bookies have backed Villarreal to score first at 39/20 (2.95) with 33.9% chances of landing.
Leverkusen have failed to keep a clean sheet in their recent matches, and BTTS – Yes at 13/20 (1.65) looks a decent bet.
Don’t forget to check out more of our best betting tips and predictions after you’ve dissected our Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: Villarreal advantage
The Yellow Submarines have not lost in their last four meetings against Bayer Leverkusen. The two sides last met in 2015-16, when Villarreal won 2-0 on aggregate.
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Edmond Tapsoba is also unavailable due to a muscular issue.
Nathan Tella is not expected to return before February, while Ben Seghir is also absent after suffering an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Predicted lineups: Blaswich (GK), Quansah, Andrich, Bade, Vazquez, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo, Maza, Poku & Schick
Last five matches:
- Leverkusen 1-0 Bremen
- Olympiacos 2-0 Leverkusen
- Hoffenheim 1-0 Leverkusen
- Leverkusen 1-4 Stuttgart
- RB Leipzig 1-3 Leverkusen
Villarreal preview: Team news
The visitors are without Pau Cabanes and Willy Kambwala, both of whom are sidelined with serious knee injuries.
Juan Foyth is also ruled out for the remainder of the season after picking up a serious Achilles tendon injury against Real Madrid.
Predicted lineups: Tenas (GK), Cardona, Veiga, Marin, Navarro, Moleiro, Gueye, Parejo, Pepe, Oluwaseyi & Moreno
Last five matches:
- Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid
- Villarreal 1-2 Ajax
- Real Betis 2-0 Villarreal
- Villarreal 3-1 Alaves
- Elche 1-3 Villarreal
Player to watch: Patrik Schick
Since joining Bayern in the summer of 2020 from AS Roma, Schick has been a regular presence in the side, scoring 90 goals in all competitions.
The 30-year-old has scored nine goals in all competitions, including two in the Champions League this season.
