Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid are both enjoying strong campaigns domestically and in European competition, with notable achievements in their respective leagues and the Champions League.
Leverkusen, in particular, has been one of the standout teams of the season, maintaining an impressive unbeaten run, while Atlético continues to show their quality despite some setbacks in Europe.
Leverkusen’s recent 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach extended their winning streak to 11 matches, a remarkable achievement that has seen them maintain an unbeaten record in 12 games across all competitions.
Leverkusen’s form extends beyond the domestic league, as they have also been performing well in the Champions League.
The team’s only defeat in the competition so far came at the hands of Liverpool in November, a rare slip-up on the road in 2024.
Since that loss, Leverkusen bounced back with commanding victories over Red Bull Salzburg (5-0) and Inter Milan (1-0), both of which showcased their solid defensive capabilities and attacking prowess.
In fact, Leverkusen has kept clean sheets in four of their six Champions League matches, proving themselves to be as formidable at the back as they are going forward.
With 13 points from their group, they sit in fourth place, 5 points behind Liverpool at the top, and remain on track to qualify for the knockout rounds.
On the other hand, Atlético Madrid has also been showing solid form in La Liga.
After a strong run of eight consecutive wins, they briefly held the top spot in the league before being overtaken by local rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.
Atlético’s defensive stability and attacking quality have been key factors in their success, with Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sørloth leading the charge domestically.
Griezmann has scored 7 goals, while Sørloth has netted 8. In Europe, Atlético’s form has been more mixed.
While they have won four of their six Champions League group-stage matches, they suffered heavy defeats to Benfica (4-0) and Lille (3-1), which left them tied on 13 points with several other teams.
Despite these setbacks, Atlético’s overall performance in the competition has been strong, conceding only 3 goals in their four victories.
Both teams have a strong historical record in European competitions, and their head-to-head matchups have been competitive.
Leverkusen is unbeaten in their last three meetings with Atlético, with two wins and a draw.
Over their 10 previous encounters in UEFA competitions, including eight Champions League fixtures, Leverkusen has only lost twice in normal time, further solidifying their reputation as a tough opponent for Atlético.
Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen’s head coach, also has experience against Atlético, having faced them four times as a player with Bayern Munich, earning two wins and two draws in those encounters.
Looking ahead, both teams are well-positioned to make deep runs in their respective competitions.
Leverkusen’s consistency in the Champions League, combined with their strong Bundesliga form, makes them one of the top teams in Europe this season.
Atlético, despite their slip-ups in Europe, remains a formidable force domestically and is still in the hunt for a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Their upcoming fixtures, particularly against each other, promise to be crucial in determining who will advance and continue their pursuit of glory.
In terms of personnel, both teams will face challenges with injuries.
Leverkusen will miss Martin Terrier for the rest of the season, and their forward line could be impacted.
Additionally, players like Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli are also sidelined.
Atlético Madrid, on the other hand, will be without José Giménez and Sørloth due to muscular injuries, which could affect their defensive and attacking options.
Ultimately, both Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid have been strong competitors this season, excelling in their domestic leagues and showing promise in Europe.
Leverkusen’s strong form in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League puts them among the favorites for top honors, while Atlético will be looking to bounce back from their European struggles and challenge for silverware in La Liga and beyond.
As both teams continue their campaigns, they will undoubtedly be looking to improve and assert themselves as major contenders on the European stage.
Probable Line-ups
Atlético Madrid:
Oblak (c) – Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Gil – Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino – Griezmann, Alvarez
Bayer Leverkusen:
Hrádecký (c) – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié – Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo – Tella, Wirtz – Schick
