Preview: Leverkusen v Zenit

• Roger Schmidt says how his side deal with Zenit's counterattacking will be key
• André Villas-Boas labels Bayer one of Europe's in-form teams
• Zenit are 16 games unbeaten; Leverkusen are ten without defeat at home
• Gonzalo Castro and Simon Rolfes are both ruled out for the hosts
•Zenit won 4-1 on their only previous trip to Leverkusen

Possible lineups
Leverkusen: Leno; Hilbert, Toprak/Jedvaj, Spahić, Wendell; Reinartz, Bender; Bellarabi, Çalhanoğlu, Son; Kiessling.
• Out: Castro (knee), Rolfes (ankle)
• Doubtful: Boenisch (heel), Toprak (cold)

Zenit: Lodygin; Smolnikov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito; Witsel, Javi García, Fayzulin, Shatov, Danny; Hulk.
• Doubtful: Shatov (muscle problem)

Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen coach
We're looking forward to playing again after the unlucky match against Stuttgart on Saturday. We know Zenit are a very good team. They're another step on compared to last year and seem to be in very good spirits. That's why it's going to be tough for us. As we did against Benfica, we have to put in a good performance; then we could even win this match.

If we play how we want to play then it's very tough to beat us. It isn't essential which team has had the longer break since their last game. We have to pay attention if Zenit win possession. They are very strong on the counterattack and have good attacking players. This might be the key.

Everybody knows how we play but we're still able to enforce our style. Of course, the Champions League is something else but even here we will play the same way. We won't change anything. Zenit will be prepared for this, but they will also play their own way – winning balls, counterattacking fast and having lots of possession.

André Villas-Boas says Zenit must improve©AFP/Getty Images

André Villas-Boas, Zenit coach
We have to improve and cannot play like we have in the last few matches. We did not show all we can do – we have to be at our best tomorrow. One of Leverkusen's qualities is the intensity with which they start games.

Obviously we come here with a strategy. The group is very even and we have a great opportunity to get ourselves in a great position for the match in Saint Petersburg with a win. We know that we're playing one of the top teams at the moment. They are playing excellent football.

They play a very open style of football, very attacking. It could be very difficult for us but we are full of great players too.

Weekend results
VfB Stuttgart 3-3 Leverkusen (Werner 57, Klein 67, Harnik 76; Son 4 9, Bellarabi 41)
FC Krasnodar 2-2 Zenit (R Sigurdsson 7, Mamaev 21; Javi García 38, Hulk 60)

Form guide (all competitions)
Leverkusen: DDWDWL
Zenit: DDDWWW

Match facts
• Zenit met Schmidt's FC Salzburg in a friendly game in January – what was the score? Find out in our extensive match background.