Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen – Champions League League Phase Vorschau

Match Preview

The new Champions League league phase has already delivered a string of heavyweight clashes and Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen is another headline fixture. After four league phase games, Manchester City are in a strong position with a record of 3 wins and 1 draw, giving them 10 points and a goal difference of +7. That is good enough for a place inside the top four of the 36 team table ahead of Matchday 5. Bayer Leverkusen, by contrast, have endured a more chaotic European campaign, sitting further down the standings with 5 points from one win, two draws and one defeat, and a negative goal difference.
City come into this fixture in devastating form. In their last Champions League outing they swept aside Borussia Dortmund 4 1 at the Etihad, a result that underlined their attacking power and pushed them up the league phase table. Phil Foden scored twice on that night, with Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki also on target, while City controlled the tempo from start to finish. That win followed a composed 2 0 away victory at Villarreal and a run of three successive domestic home wins over Liverpool, Bournemouth and Swansea.
Overall, Pep Guardiolas side have scored freely across competitions. In the four league phase matches to date, City have registered 10 goals for and only 3 against, one of the best defensive records in the competition so far. Their attacking statistics stand out as well, with multiple players contributing in the final third, from Haaland and Foden to the wide threats of Jeremy Doku and Savinho. The combination of a high possession game, intense pressing and ruthless finishing makes them clear contenders to top the league phase.
Bayer Leverkusen have had a very different journey. Their Champions League campaign opened with a pair of draws away to Copenhagen and at home to PSV, followed by a dramatic and painful 2 7 home defeat to Paris Saint Germain, a result that briefly shook their European confidence and ended a long unbeaten home streak in UEFA competitions. Leverkusen responded in impressive style on Matchday 4, beating Benfica 1 0 in Lisbon to secure their first win of the league phase and climb to 5 points.
Domestically, Leverkusen remain highly competitive near the top of the Bundesliga. In early November they recorded a spectacular 6 0 home win against Heidenheim, showcasing the attacking instincts that have become a hallmark of their play. That result came shortly after a 3 0 defeat away to Bayern Munich, underlining how the team can shift rapidly between dominant and vulnerable performances when stepping up to the very highest level.
The league phase table paints a clear picture of what is at stake. City are among a cluster of powerhouses such as Bayern, Arsenal, Inter and PSG at the top end, all pushing for a coveted top eight position which brings direct qualification for the round of 16. Leverkusen, placed in the mid to lower section of the table, are fighting to stay inside the top 24 that would at least grant a play off spot. Any points taken from the Etihad would be a bonus for the German side, while a defeat would keep them under heavy pressure heading into the final three games.
From a tactical point of view, the match promises an intriguing clash of styles. Manchester City are expected to dominate the ball, with their usual 4 3 3 or 3 2 4 1 positional structure, full backs stepping into midfield and center backs comfortable carrying possession forward. Their aim will be to pin Leverkusen back, control the rhythm and create overloads between the lines. With Haaland leading the line, the hosts will look to feed crosses, cut backs and through balls into the penalty area at regular intervals.
Bayer Leverkusen, under Kasper Hjulmand, can play bold attacking football in the Bundesliga, but in this setting they may choose a more pragmatic approach, especially after the heavy defeat to PSG. A compact defensive block, quick transitions through midfield and attempts to exploit spaces behind Citys advanced full backs are likely to form the core of their game plan. Players like Alex Grimaldo, who offers creativity from deep and set piece quality, will be vital if Leverkusen are to create enough chances to harm City.
One key theme is psychological resilience. For City, this is about maintaining focus and not underestimating a dangerous opponent despite the one sided odds. For Leverkusen, it is about showing that the PSG loss was a one off aberration rather than a sign of a permanent gap at this level. The recent win at Benfica and the domestic demolition of Heidenheim suggest they are capable of a much higher performance than that 2 7 collapse.
Historically, these clubs have rarely crossed paths in competitive UEFA fixtures. While they have faced many of the same European giants over the years, direct clashes between Manchester City and Leverkusen have been rare, making this league phase encounter feel fresh and unpredictable. It gives Leverkusen a chance to measure themselves against the reigning Premier League superpower and offers City another test against one of Germanys most exciting attacking sides.
All indicators point toward a match that City should control, but there are enough variables to keep the outcome interesting. The English champions are heavy favourites on every statistical model, yet a high tempo , high press approach always carries risk. If Leverkusen can survive the early pressure, frustrate City in front of goal and use their own counter attacking strengths, the game could become more balanced than the pre match narrative suggests.

TV Broadcast & Livestreams

The Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen game will be widely available through official UEFA Champions League broadcast partners and licensed streaming platforms around the world.

• United Kingdom: The match is scheduled live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with a full live stream on TNT Sports via discovery+.
• Germany: Champions League coverage is shared between DAZN and Prime Video. DAZN shows the majority of league phase fixtures, while Prime Video selects one featured match on Tuesday nights. Fans should check the local TV schedule closer to kick off to confirm which provider shows Manchester City vs Leverkusen live.
• United States: The official broadcaster is Paramount+, which streams every Champions League game live and on demand across the season.
• Canada and New Zealand: DAZN holds exclusive rights and offers live streaming for all Champions League league phase fixtures.
• Australia: Matches are shown live on Stan Sport via streaming.
• Other regions: Depending on the country, rights may be held by networks such as beIN SPORTS, Canal Plus, SuperSport, or regional UEFA partners. Fans should consult local listings or UEFA broadcast guides for exact channels.

Supporters traveling abroad can usually access their domestic live streams through the official broadcaster, in line with the platforms terms of service and local regulations. Using legal services ensures reliable quality and protects against illegal stream risks.

Match Information

Odds (1X2)

Leading bookmakers and prediction models make Manchester City very strong favourites to win this game. Representative prices from major odds comparison sites show a clear pattern: City are trading at short odds, the draw is rated as unlikely, and a Leverkusen win carries a very high price.:

Some market models give City more than a 60 percent chance of victory, with Leverkusen priced in double figures in the match winner market. As always, odds can move in the days leading up to kick off depending on team news, betting volumes and trader adjustments, so anyone interested in wagering should check the latest numbers from licensed operators and bet responsibly.

Form & Head to Head

Recent Form – Manchester City (last 6 matches, all competitions)

Citys recent record shows five wins and one defeat across six fixtures, with four or more goals scored in several matches and back to back Champions League victories over Villarreal and Dortmund.

Recent Form – Bayer Leverkusen (Champions League focus plus key domestic results)

Leverkusens European form has been volatile, ranging from the heavy 2 7 defeat to PSG to the impressive 1 0 away win at Benfica. Domestically they have produced big scorelines, including the 6 0 victory over Heidenheim.

Head to Head

Competitive head to head meetings between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen are extremely rare. The clubs have not faced each other in recent Champions League campaigns, and this league phase fixture effectively opens a new chapter in their European relationship. That lack of direct history adds an extra layer of intrigue, as there are no recent competitive match ups to use as a benchmark.

League Phase Standings Snapshot

The 2025 26 UEFA Champions League uses a single 36 team league table in the first phase. Each club plays eight games against different opponents, with the top eight going straight to the round of 16 and positions 9 to 24 entering a two legged play off. The current snapshot around Matchday 4 shows the following for these two teams:

Those numbers highlight the different pressures on each club. City are pushing for a top eight finish, while Leverkusen need to accumulate points quickly to stay in the conversation for the top 24 and the play offs.

Prediction

Based on current form, statistical models and the balance of quality in the squads, it is no surprise that Manchester City are rated as overwhelming favourites. They are scoring freely, have already beaten strong opponents like Dortmund and Villarreal in this league phase and rarely drop points at the Etihad in European competition. Their defensive numbers are also solid, with only three goals conceded in four Champions League matches so far.
Bayer Leverkusen cannot be dismissed, especially given their attacking potential and recent domestic displays. The win at Benfica shows they can deliver a clever, disciplined away performance in Europe. However, the 2 7 defeat against PSG and the 3 0 loss to Bayern underline that they can struggle when faced with elite opponents capable of sustained pressure and high tempo football.
Tactical match ups point toward City having sustained territorial dominance, with Leverkusen targeting quick counters and set pieces. If the visitors can stay compact, limit space for Foden and Haaland between the lines and avoid early mistakes, they have a chance to keep the game competitive. Over 90 minutes though, the depth of Citys bench, their experience and their home advantage are likely to tell.
Considering all factors, the most realistic scenario is a controlled home win with a clean sheet for City, while Leverkusen find it difficult to create enough high quality chances.
Score Prediction: Manchester City 2 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen
This result would maintain Citys momentum at the top end of the league phase and leave Leverkusen with work to do in the final three fixtures if they want to secure a play off spot.