Bayer Leverkusen vs Juventus
UEFA Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 10th December 2019
Kick off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: BayArena (Leverkusen).
Bayer Leverkusen
Nadiem Amiri available once again for Bayer Leverkusen after serving a ban last time in competition.
Charles Aránguiz and Karim Bellarabi are one booking away from a one-match ban in the competition.
Kai Havertz back from injury for the home team in a big boost ahead of Wednesday.
Jonathan Tah missed out at the weekend through suspension but is free to play here.
Juventus
Juventus have secured top spot in Group D and Maurizio Sarri is expected to shuffle his pack.
Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain may even get a chance to start up front together, with Cristiano Ronaldo rested.
Blaise Matuidi will miss Juventus's first knockout match if he is booked on Wednesday and would ideally be given the night off but Rodrigo Bentancur, Aaron Ramsey and the injured Sami Khedira.
Juan Cuadrado was sent off in the 3-1 defeat to Lazio Juventus on Saturday but is free to play here if invoked, although Maurizio Sarri can choose to Danilo to prepare him for the weekend.
Matthijs de Ligt has been given the night off and not traveling, so Daniele Rugani should have the opportunity to start here.
Head-to-head
It will be only the second meeting between the two teams since the group stage of the 2001/02 Champions League, Leverkusen season reached the final and were defeated by the famous Zinedine Zidane volley at Hampden Park.
In the 01/02 group stage Juventus won their home fixture 4-0, while supplies in Leverkusen ended 3-1 to the hosts.
In the reverse fixture back in September on matchday two, Juve ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Prediction
With the stakes are certainly much higher for the red-hot Leverkusen side, you would expect them to get a result against Juve team that is visible without confidence in the present and in the end, did not play for anything at this one.
But the defeat last time out means that this Sarri men will be eager to win their next rally in front of the Serie A clash despite the low stakes. And although some rotation, they still will field a very strong starting XI on Wednesday night.
However, this one has the makings of a real entertainer with little to separate the two sides.
Prediction: Juventus 2-2 Leverkusen
