Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
The 3:0 victory for Bayern Munich in the first leg was a statement performance, one that even the Bavarians themselves may not have anticipated. While such total dominance is unlikely to be replicated in Leverkusen, the hosts have certainly hit a mental slump, and without their midfield leader, overturning the deficit will be a monumental challenge.
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen suffered back-to-back defeats last week for the first time since May 2023. Their collapse in Munich was stark, conceding 2.68 xGA from 17 shots faced, while registering just 0.33 xG and managing a single shot on target. The red card to Nordi Mukiele crippled their attacking output, and Saturday’s 2:0 loss to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga only compounded their issues. The injury scare to Florian Wirtz, who played just 13 minutes at the weekend, is another significant blow.
Bayern Munich
Bayern, despite their 3:2 defeat at Bochum, remain in control of the Bundesliga title race. That loss was their first since 22 January, following their 0:3 collapse against Feyenoord Rotterdam, but Bayern responded with eight wins and two draws in between. Crucially, the squad rotation against Bochum means Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich will be fresh for this decisive fixture.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen are a side low on confidence, and overturning a three-goal deficit against Bayern will be a near-impossible task. With the visitors’ defensive structure expected to hold firm, a Bayern win with a handicap looks the best value bet.
