Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United: Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time | UEFA Champions League 2025/26

On: December 8, 2025 2:51 AM

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United: Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time | UEFA Champions League 2025/26

---Advertisement---

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Match Preview

A pivotal Champions League night awaits at the BayArena on Wednesday, 10 December 2025. Newcastle United travel to Germany sitting 11th in the League Phase table with 9 points, eyeing a victory that could catapult them into the automatic qualification spots (Top 8). Bayer Leverkusen, currently 17th with 8 points, are fighting for survival and consistency. After a disappointing domestic loss to Augsburg, the German champions need a statement performance to secure their place in the knockout rounds.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Match Info

Competition: UEFA Champions League (League Phase – Matchday 6)
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen (Capacity: 30,210)
Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Kickoff: 21:00 CET | 20:00 GMT | 01:30 IST (Thursday)
Referee: TBC (UEFA appointment pending)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Match Stakes

Bayer Leverkusen (17th — 8 pts):

Win → Jump to ~11 pts, likely entering the Top 12 and nearing safety
Draw → Keeps them in the playoff zone (9th-24th) but vulnerable
Loss → Risk dropping out of the top 24 entirely if results go against them

Newcastle United (11th — 9 pts):

Win → Moves to 12 pts, challenging for a Top 8 direct qualification spot
Draw → Solidifies playoff seeding; keeps European campaign steady
Loss → Drops them into the mid-table scrap; pressure mounts for final games

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Team News

Bayer Leverkusen:

Palacios E. — Out (Groin Injury)
Arthur — Out (Back Injury)
Hofmann J. — Questionable (Muscle tightness)
Andrich R. — Available (Key midfielder)

Newcastle United:

Botman S. — Out (Back Injury)
Trippier K. — Out (Hamstring Injury)
Osula W. — Out (Ankle Injury)
Wissa Y. — Questionable (Knee knock)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Bayer Leverkusen

06/12 — 0–2 vs Augsburg (Bundesliga)
03/12 — 1–0 vs Dortmund (DFB-Pokal)
29/11 — 1–2 vs Dortmund (Bundesliga)
26/11 — 2–0 vs Manchester City (UCL)
22/11 — 3–1 vs Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)

Newcastle United

06/12 — 2–1 vs Burnley (Premier League)
03/12 — 2–2 vs Tottenham (Premier League)
29/11 — 4–1 vs Everton (Premier League)
26/11 — 1–2 vs Marseille (UCL)
22/11 — 2–1 vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Head-to-Head (Last Meetings)

27/02/2003 — Newcastle 3–1 Bayer Leverkusen (UCL)
19/02/2003 — Bayer Leverkusen 1–3 Newcastle United (UCL)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1)

Flekken M.; Tapsoba E., Quansah J., Badé L.; Tella N., Andrich R., Garcia A., Grimaldo A.; Maza I., Terrier M.; Schick P.

Newcastle United (4-3-3)

Ramsdale A.; Livramento T., Thiaw M., Burn D., Hall L.; Tonali S., Guimaraes B., Joelinton; Gordon A., Wissa Y., Barnes H.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Impact Bench

Bayer Leverkusen: Ben Seghir (Creative spark), Echeverri (Dribbling vs tired legs)

Newcastle United: Murphy J. (Pace on counter), Willock J. (Energy in midfield)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Tactical Analysis

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen will look to exploit the wide areas through Grimaldo and Tella. Their recent success against Man City showed they can absorb pressure and strike vertically. However, the loss of defensive stability (conceding in 3 of the last 5 league games) is a concern. They must control the midfield transition where Newcastle thrives.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe’s men are lethal on the break. With Gordon and Barnes flanking Wissa (or Woltemade), they will target the space behind Leverkusen’s wing-backs. The midfield trio of Tonali, Bruno, and Joelinton offers immense physicality, which could overwhelm Leverkusen’s technical but sometimes lightweight engine room.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Key Battles

Tapsoba vs Gordon — pace mismatch on the flank
Andrich vs Guimaraes — the battle for midfield authority
Grimaldo vs Livramento — attacking fullback duel
Schick vs Burn — aerial dominance in the box

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Spotlight Players

Bayer Leverkusen — Alex Grimaldo

The Spaniard remains Leverkusen’s primary creative outlet. His set-piece delivery and crosses from the left will be the main route to goal for Patrik Schick.

Newcastle United — Anthony Gordon

Gordon’s electrifying pace is tailor-made for Champions League away days. If Leverkusen commit too many men forward, Gordon will punish them in transition.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United — Prediction

Bayer Leverkusen 2–2 Newcastle United

Both sides have shown defensive frailty recently but possess ample firepower. Leverkusen are desperate for points at home, while Newcastle’s counter-attacking style suits this fixture perfectly. An entertaining, high-scoring draw is likely.