Bayer Leverkusen face Tottenham at the BayArena on Tuesday, Oct.18. Here’s all the info you need to watch.
Spurs travel to Germany looking to continue an eight game unbeaten streak in all competitions, while Leverkusen is hoping to collect their first Champions League win.
Leverkusen, after leading in both of their previous Champions League fixtures, have been unable to see games through. They conceded a 2-0 lead at home to draw CSKA Moscow on matchday one, which was followed on matchday two by a 94th-minute Monaco equalizer.
The German side could, and probably should, have all six points and a lead atop Group E. Instead, Leverkusen have two points from as many games and sit in third place in the group, one point adrift of Spurs.
Leverkusen, with four wins and four draws, haven’t lost in eight matches at home in European competitions, which dates back to November 2014.
But their season hasn’t gone the way manager Roger Schmidt anticipated, his club reeling in 10th place in the Bundesliga after losing three of their four domestic matches away from home.
Leverkusen, with only two wins from their last six in all competitions, is ripe for the picking. And, with the form Spurs are in, you wouldn’t bet against the North Londoners snatching all three points. Heung-Min Son, who played two full seasons with German side, will make his first return to Leverkusen since moving to Tottenham in August 2015.
The 24-year-old South Korean striker is expected to lead the attacking charge for a Spurs team that has scored in 21 consecutive games. On the defensive side of the ball, Tottenham will be forced to play without the services of center-back Toby Alderweireld, who injured his knee away to West Brom on the weekend.
Eric Dier is set to replace Alderweireld in the heart of Spurs defense. Expect Leverkusen to test Dier, who hasn’t played consistently at center-back for an extended spell, early and often. A lot will be determined by how Dier reacts to the pressure of being reunited with his formerly favored position in the most hostile of environments.
Spurs would love nothing more than to take all three points away to Leverkusen, but Tottenham should temper their expectations.
Though recent form favors Spurs, Leverkusen have a formidable home record and haven’t lost at BayArena since March, a record that spans 10 matches in all competitions. Tottenham lost their first Champions League game 2-1 to Monaco at Wembley, a result that was followed by a vital 1-0 win away to CSKA Moscow.
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The Champions League match between Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham will be broadcast on ESPN 3. Live streaming is available on ESPN Deportes, which you can access with your cable or satellite subscriptions. For more information on live streaming options, click here.
Date: Tuesday, October 18
Start time: 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Leverkusen, Germany
Stadium: BayArena
TV Info: ESPN 3
Live Stream: ESPN Deportes
There is more pressure on Leverkusen to win this crucial Group E encounter, while Spurs would be content to depart Germany with a draw. It’s essential that Spurs quell the raucous, vociferous Leverkusen crowd and make it through the first 20 minutes uscathed.
If they can fend off the initial barrage, Spurs have a chance to snatch a winner but a draw is more likely in the offing.