Champions League Matchday 6: Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle facts

A single point separates Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United in the league phase standings as the teams meet in Germany on UEFA Champions League Matchday 6.

Last match

The clubs' only previous meetings came in the 2002/03 second group stage, the English side winning 3-1 both in Germany – where Shola Ameobi scored twice – and England thanks to an Alan Shearer hat-trick.

This is Leverkusen's second successive game against English opponents, having won 2-0 at Manchester City on Matchday 5 to end the Premier League club's seven-year unbeaten home run in the group stage/league phase.

A 4-0 loss at Liverpool on Matchday 4 last season is Leverkusen's only defeat in their last six game against English teams (W3 D2), a run that includes four clean sheets.

After victories in their first four matches against German teams, Newcastle are winless in the last three (D1 L2), most recently losing 0-1 at home and 0-2 away to Borussia Dortmund in the 2023/24 group stage.

The Magpies have won two of their four games in Germany (D1 L1) though their first defeat came in the last fixture, in Dortmund in 2023.

Leverkusen

Leverkusen are featuring in the Champions League proper for the 15th time – although only the fourth in nine seasons.

In 2024/25 a team coached by Xabi Alonso finished sixth in the league phase (W5 D1 L2) only to lose an all-German last-16 tie to Bayern München (0-3 a, 0-2 h).

Newcastle 

This is Newcastle's fourth campaign in the Champions League proper, although only their second since 2002/03.

Eddie Howe's side were fourth in their section behind Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan two seasons ago (W1 D2 L3), their sole win the 4-1 home success against the French club on Matchday 2.

Key stats

The win at Manchester City was Leverkusen's 50th in the European Cup.

A 1-0 win at Benfica on Matchday 4 ended Leverkusen's run of five Champions League games without a victory (D2 L3).

Leverkusen have lost only two of their last nine matches in the league phase (W5 D2), winning the two most recent without conceding.

Die Werkself have lost only three of their last 21 European group stage/league phase matches (W13 D5).

Patrik Schick has scored in Leverkusen's last two Champions League matches having managed only one goal in his first 28 appearances in the competition proper.

A 2-1 defeat at Marseille on Matchday 5 ended Newcastle's run of three successive Champions League victories without conceding.

That was only the Magpies' third defeat in their last 14 away European group stage/league phase games (W5 D6).

However, Newcastle have won only two of their last 13 away European games (D6 L5).

Harvey Barnes, who opened the scoring in Marseille, has four goals in his last four Champions League appearances.