On Wednesday night, German team Bayer Leverkusen and Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow go head-to-head at the BayArena in Group D of the Champions League.
With Juventus and Atletico Madrid also in the group, these two teams are outsiders to make it out of the group to the knockout stages of the competition. If either team is to make an impact in the group then they have to win games against each other at least.
The home side are favourites to pick up a result on Wednesday night, as they on paper have a far superior team to the Russian visitors. Bayer have made a mixed start to their Bundesliga campaign.
Up next: #B04FCLMThe @championsleague returns to the BayArena on Wednesday! pic.twitter.com/b8MpPnAVIO— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 15, 2019
Up next: #B04FCLMThe @championsleague returns to the BayArena on Wednesday! pic.twitter.com/b8MpPnAVIO
The team from Leverkusen also have an inconsistent recent record in the Champions League. The home side has been difficult to beat in the competition, though, losing just once in their last ten matches in the competition. They have been draw specialists in the competition of late, with seven of those aforementioned ten matches finishing all square.
Bayer’s run of Champions League draws is reflected in their recent results on home soil in the competition, as four of their last six matches at the BayArena have finished in draws.
Lokomotiv Moscow are very much the underdogs to make it to the knockout stages of Group D. Their underdogs status originates from the fact that the Russian team have lost six of their last seven matches in Europe’s elite competition.
Two victories in their last 11 matches in this competition does not bode well for qualification for the knockout stages.
To make matters worse, Lokomotiv have also failed to win in their last 13 away games in the Champions League. A trip to Leverkusen, where the home team are strong is unlikely to be a cure for the visitor's travel sickness.
Forebet predicts that Lokomotiv will be unable to pull off a surprise away win and Bayer will record a low-scoring victory.