Bayer Leverkusen prepared for their return to UEFA Champions League action with a win against Hoffenheim. - © IMAGO/Markus Ulmer

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Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen: UEFA Champions League team news, match stats & LIVE blog!

18.09.2024

Bayer Leverkusen will start off their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign away against Feyenoord at De Kuip on Thursday (kick-off: 6.45pm CEST).

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Leverkusen's stunning unbeaten Bundesliga triumph last term has earned them a rightful return to Europe's elite, having also reached the UEFA Europa League final. Their run without defeat in the German top flight may be over after a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig on Matchday 2, but they have still won four of their five games so far, including an impressive 4-1 victory over Hoffenheim at the weekend. They also have a trophy this campaign in the Supercup. They are well in contention to go far on their return to the Champions League and will be eager to kick off with all three points in Rotterdam. With Exequiel Palacios once again available following a knee operation, Xabi Alonso will has a full squad available to him, including all of his key lieutenants. Florian Wirtz - who has three goals to his name this term for Leverkusen and also recently found the back of the net for Germany on international duty - and weekend brace-scorer Victor Boniface remain Alonso's key threats but, as we know from their incredible displays last term, there is quality wherever you look in this squad. The main dilemma remains between the sticks, where Lukáš Hrádecký and Matěj Kovář are locked in a battle for a place in the starting XI after each featuring in the Bundesliga already this term.

Feyenoord finished second to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie last term, losing just two of their 34 matches, while they even got one over the eventual champions by beating them in the Dutch Cup final. They also edged the same opponents out on penalties in the domestic Supercup in August, but the summer has not been without its difficulties. Mats Wieffer and new Leipzig man Lutsharel Geertruida, two of their best performers, were sold, while second-top goalscorer Yankuba Minteh returned to the English Premier League after a loan spell. Perhaps the biggest setback of all was head coach Arne Slot's switch to Liverpool. However, their leading striker, Santiago Giménez, remains at the club, while David Háncko and Antoni Milambo have enjoyed strong starts to the campaign. New boss Brian Priske will be without Calvin Stengs, while Quilindschy Hartman is a doubt. Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made eight Bundesliga appearances for Schalke way back in 2014/15 and may feature in the first XI after starting each of the team's previous four league matches.

Watch: Leverkusen's best goals during their 35-game unbeaten Bundesliga run

Match stats

Alonso will make his Champions League coaching debut. The Spaniard made 119 appearances in the competition as a player, lifting the trophy with Liverpool (2004/05) and Real Madrid (2013/14).
Wirtz is primed to take his Champions League bow. Across the last four Europa League seasons, he's been involved in more goals (12 of his own and 12 assists), and created more chances (88) than any other player.
Boniface struck five times in eight Europa League games for Leverkusen in 2023/24, averaging a goal every 76 minutes and finding the back of the net on all four of his starts. Ulf Kirsten is the only Bayer player to score in five successive major European competition starts, doing so twice in runs ending in 1994 and 1999.
Alonso's team scored 31 goals in 13 games in the Europa League last season - the highest tally of any club side in European competition in 2023/24 (excluding qualifying matches).
Leverkusen beat Feyenoord in their only meeting to date, prevailing 3-2 in the last 16 of the 1987/88 UEFA Cup on their way to lifting the trophy.
Die Werkself are unbeaten in their previous six UEFA competition games against Dutch opposition (W3, D3).

Probable line-ups

Feyenoord: Wellenreuther - Nieuwkoop, Beelen (c), Hancko, Smal - Milambo, Zerrouki, Timber - Ivanušec, Giménez, Paixão
Out: Stengs (knee)
Doubtful: Hartman (knee)
Coach: Brian Priske

Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Boniface
Out: -
Doubtful: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso

LIVE blog

Feyenoord

Thu, 19.09 16:45

Leverkusen

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 De Kuip, Rotterdam

1:09

Watch: Alonso and Bayer back in the UCL

Alonso won the Champions League twice as a player - how will he fare in the competition as head coach of defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen?

Watch: Leverkusen U.S trophy tour

It was quite the campaign for Leverkusen last term as they won the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. This week, the trophies have been on tour in the USA...

Feyenoord team news

Brian Priske, meanwhile, will be without Calvin Stengs, while Quilindschy Hartman is a doubt to a knee problem. Santiago Giménez, the Eredivisie's top goalscorer from 2023/24, is available and is expected to lead the line.

Leverkusen team news

Alonso has nothing to worry about when it comes to team selection, at least in terms of injuries. He has a full squad to choose from, so will still have decisions to make, but expect the likes of Champions League debutant Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka and Victor Boniface to all feature.

New ground for Alonso

While he made 119 appearances in this competition as a player, Leverkusen coach Alonso is making his Champions League bow in the dugout. He will be eager, therefore, to kick off with all three points.

2:03

Watch: Hoffenheim 1-4 Leverkusen - highlights

The German champions picked up their second win of the season thanks in large part to Victor Boniface's double - their Dutch opponents, meanwhile, have won just one of their opening four league games.

It's been a while

Leverkusen have not faced a Dutch side since the 1994/95 UEFA Cup third round when they defeated PSV Eindhoven 5-4 in a first-leg thriller at home. The second leg was goalless.

How do the new European competition formats work?

The UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have all undergone a revamp for the 2024/25 season. There are more teams, more games and a new ‘Swiss’-style format. Check out the article on bundesliga.com to find out how it’s all going to work.

Tournament goals

Xabi Alonso's side are getting ready to compete in what will be the club's 15th time in the Champions League proper. The Bundesliga winners will be hoping to successfully navigate the League phase in order to reach the tournament's knockouts for the first time since 2016/17.

Feyenoord memories

On their way to winning the 1987 UEFA Cup, Leverkusen knocked Feyenoord out of the competition in the third round by 3-2 on aggregate. That was the last and only time the teams' paths crossed in UEFA competition.

... and a European final

Aside from winning the Bundesliga and DFB Cup last term, Leverkusen also went all the way to the UEFA Europa League final, where they lost out to Atalanta in the Dublin showpiece.

3:00

Entertainers supreme

In an unbelievable 2023/24 unbeaten domestic season, Bayer 04 were crowned Bundesliga champions for the very first time, which propelled the Meisterschale winners into a newly formed Champions League opening phase.

12:00

Here we go!

So, then, it's time for the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Supercup champions to get their UEFA Champions League campaign underway! Xabi Alonso's men are all set to tackle Feyenoord, which means its time to learn all their is to know about the Werkself!

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's opening UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Feyenoord of the Netherlands.