UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Story so far: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

A strong middle period of the group stage proved enough to send Bayer 04 Leverkusen through, despite finishing second, as Son Heung-Min stole the show for the Werkself.

After a hugely encouraging pre-season under new coach Roger Schmidt, much was expected of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and for the most part, the Werkself delivered. Defeats home and away by AS Monaco FC ultimately meant the Bundesliga high-fliers were pipped by the principality side in the race for top spot in Group C, but they secured a berth in the last 16 with two games to spare.

Story so far
A fourth-placed finish in the Bundesliga last term meant Leverkusen had to negotiate the play-off round against FC København. An entertaining 3-2 first leg victory was followed up with comfortable 4-0 home success and, in the first round proper, Schmidt's side were devastating at times.

©AFP/Getty Images

An unfortunate 1-0 defeat at Monaco notwithstanding, Leverkusen won their next three games against Benfica and Zenit, home and away, to qualify early for the knockout stages. Defeat on matchday five, again to Monaco, left them requiring victory at bottom side Benfica to claim top spot for the first time in their history, but a 0-0 draw meant that honour eluded them.

Pivotal moment
Following a promising start in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen's UEFA Champions League matchday one defeat against Monaco left many wondering whether the German side could translate their domestic form onto the continental stage. They responded admirably a fortnight later with an impressive 3-1 success at home to Benfica. Playing the Portuguese visitors off the park, they ushered in a three-match winning run which saw them comfortably into the knockout stages.

Son on 'special' night

Key player: Son Heung-Min
With two goals in the play-off round and another three in the group stage, it is hard to look beyond Son. The South Korean international has come on since his transfer from Hamburger SV ahead of the 2013/14 season, and with long-serving goal-getter Stefan Kiessling hitting a barren spell of late, Son's pace, power and finishing have made him the focal point of an at-times explosive Leverkusen attack.

Rising star: Wendell
The Brazil Under-21 international has looked mightily impressive in his three group stage appearances, particularly in the home match against FC Zenit on matchday three, when he effectively shut his more illustrious compatriot Hulk out of the game. Wendell was sent off later in that match, earning him a suspension that kept him out of the return fixture in Russia, but his tenacity, pace and eagerness to get forward make the left-back an exciting prospect.

Number: 105
Leverkusen committed more fouls than any other team in the group stage, including 17 apiece from Kiessling and Lars Bender. Remarkably, neither of those players have picked up a booking so far in this season's competition.

Quote
"In football, if you don't score, you'll get punished."
Schmidt after a second 1-0 defeat to Monaco, his side having dominated both fixtures

Next challenge: Club Atlético de Madrid
(Home: 25 February, away: 17 March)
The teams' sole previous meetings came in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League group stage, the games in both Madrid and Leverkusen ending 1-1. It was the German side who progressed, however, finishing first in Group B; Atlético, then holders, came third.