Xabi Alonso (l.) will look to Florian Wirtz (r.) to help take Bayer Leverkusen past Sparta Prague and into the UEFA Champions League knockouts. - © IMAGO/Weis/TEAM2sportphoto

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Bayer Leverkusen vs. Sparta Prague: UEFA Champions League probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

26.01.2025

Bayer Leverkusen's hopes of qualifying directly for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 hinge on the result of their final game of the league phase against Sparta Prague on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).

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Leverkusen are already assured of a place in the last 16 play-offs, but could circumvent those two extra games altogether with three points against Sparta. Even then, there's still a risk of them slipping out of the league phase's top eight, if one of the handful of teams below them also on 13 points wins whilst overturning Bayer's marginally superior goal difference (currently +6). Xabi Alonso's side would have been in a far more comfortable position, had they not lost to Atlético Madrid from a goal and man up last time out. Nerves also got the better of them at the weekend as they let slip a 2-0 lead to draw at RB Leipzig - a result that leaves the defending Bundesliga champions six points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Defender Piero Hincapié serves a one-match ban, but Jeremie Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo and Exequiel Palacios are all set to return to the starting line-up at the BayArena, where Leverkusen have already accounted for AC Milan (1-0), Red Bull Salzburg (5-0) and Inter Milan (1-0) in this season's competition.

That last sentence will make for worrying reading for all concerned at Sparta. The reigning Czech First League champions are one of nine teams already eliminated from the competition following a forgettable European campaign that's taken in five losses from seven games, including a 4-2 reverse against a Feyenoord side Leverkusen thrashed 4-0 on Matchday 1. They also went down 1-0 to Inter last time out, in what was their first competitive fixture of 2025. Lars Friis's charges resume their pursuit of runaway league leaders and city rivals Slavia four days after the Leverkusen trip, so won't want to take too many risks in a game that, for them, has nothing riding on it.

Watch: Sparta alumnus Patrik Schick continued his purple patch against Leipzig

Match stats

Leverkusen have never lost back-to-back games in European competition under Alonso (P31: W17, D8, L6).
Bayer are unbeaten in their last 12 European matches at the BayArena (W9, D3) - their best ever home run without loss in continental football.
Florian Wirtz is one of only three players to have scored at least five goals (five), created 10 or more chances from open play (18) and completed 10 or more dribbles (16) in this season's Champions League, along with Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha.
Wirtz has nine goals to show for his first 19 home European matches in Leverkusen colours - the same tally as 2001/02 Champions League runner-up Michael Ballack (nine in 14 games at the BayArena). The only player with more is Ulf Kirsten (16 in 23).
Patrik Schick is a product of the Sparta youth system. The Leverkusen striker made his professional debut and scored once in 10 senior appearances for the club.
Sparta are winless in six UEFA competition meetings with German opposition since beating Werder Bremen in the 1992/93 Cup Winner's Cup (D4, L2).

Probable teams

Leverkusen: Kovář - Mukiele, Tah (c), Tapsoba - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - Tella, Wirtz - Schick
Out: Adli (broken leg), Belocian (cruciate ligament), Hincapié (suspended), Terrier (Achilles)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Sparta: Vindahl-Jensen - Vitík, Panák (c), Sörensen - Wiesner, Sadílek, Kairinen, Laci, Ryneš - Olatunji, Birmančević
Out: Cobbaut (unconfirmed), García de Albéniz (knee), Preciado (knee), Rrahmani (muscular), Tuci (unconfirmed)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Lars Friis

LIVE blog!

Leverkusen

Wed, 29.01 20:00

Sparta

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 8 League phase, Matchday 8 BayArena

The story so far: Sparta Praha

The Prague side lie in 29th place on four points, putting them in the elimination places. They have lost five of their seven games so far, winning one and drawing one of the remaining games. They aren't able to escape elimination, but would love to go out on a high with a win over Leverkusen.

The story so far: Bayer Leverkusen

They currently sit 8th in the standings, level on points with the five teams below them (Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest) with 13 points. Looking upwards, they sit just three points off 3rd place Arsenal, and as things stand will be going directly into the round of 16. Their recent loss away to Atlético Madrid was just their second this season in the competition, having won four and drawn one of the remaining games.

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Watch: RB Leipzig 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen - highlights

The hosts let a 2-0 lead slip to RB Leipzig in their most recent Bundesliga game, extending the gap between them and league leaders Bayern Munich to six points. Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso's men have plenty of time to close that gap before the season's end.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's eighth and final game of the UEFA Champions League's 2024/25 league phase at home to Sparta Prague on Wednesday, with all 18 fixtures being played simultaneously on the final matchday.