Bayer have won two of their last four UCL games

In the Champions League Round of 16, the second leg between Arsenal and Bayer will take place on March 17, 2026. The tournament favorite postponed the decision to reach the next stage for the home match.

The English side has finished second in the Premier League three times. But this season, they led the table alone throughout the campaign, although a string of slip-ups at the end of winter nearly wiped out their advantage over Manchester City. They will also face City soon in the League Cup final. The Germans, after their “golden double” in 2024, kept Xabi Alonso for another year, but even with him, they finished behind Bayern in the next campaign.

Then, after losing ground early due to an unsuccessful bet on ten Hag, they were forced to switch focus to fight at least for a spot among the top four. There’s also the Cup, but they will have to play Bayern in the semifinals there.

In the Champions League, the London club became a new record holder. For the first time, they won all eight group stage matches, scoring three or four goals per game—most notably, a 3-1 home win over Bayern!

Leverkusen looked much more modest in the tournament, especially at the start: a couple of draws and a 2-7 defeat to PSG. But in the remaining group matches, they added three wins and ten points, earning a playoff spot. In February, they took revenge on Olympiacos for a January defeat: 2-0 away, 0-0 at home. Against much stronger Britons, they led 1-0 for a long time, but conceded late from a controversial penalty.

Previous Meetings: Arsenal vs Bayer

The clubs already met in the Champions League playoffs in 2002. After a draw in Germany, the London giants crushed their opponents at home.

The English know how to rise to the occasion. Back them with a “-1.5 goals” handicap (odds – 1.91).

Arsenal vs Bayer: Key Stats and Trends
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine matches
The team averages 2.67 goals scored and 0.56 conceded per match
Bayer have won two of their last four Champions League games
The club averages 1.45 goals scored and 1.36 conceded per match
Arsenal vs Bayer: Projected Starting Lineups
Arsenal play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Raya – Hincapié, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber – Rice, Zubimendi, Martinelli, Eze, Saka – Gyökeres. Merino and Ødegaard are still out.

Bayer use a 1-3-4-2-1 formation (probable lineup): Blaswich – Tapsoba, Quansah, Andrich – Grimaldo, Maza, Terrier, Aleix Garcia, Palacios, Poku – Kofan. Several players are injured: Flekken, Lucas Vázquez, Bode, Arthur, and more.