Leverkusen look to spirit of 2002

Not for the first time, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be hoping to overcome a first-leg deficit against Liverpool FC in order to advance in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The two sides last met at the quarter-final stage of the 2001/02 Champions League when Leverkusen won that tie despite losing the first leg 1-0 in England to Sami Hyypiä's goal on the stroke of half-time. Although Liverpool cancelled out Michael Ballack's 16th-minute opener at the BayArena thanks to Abel Xavier's effort three minutes before the break, Leverkusen raised their game in the second half. Further goals from Ballack (64 minutes), substitute Dimitar Berbatov (68) and Lucio (84) helped the German side into the last four after Jari Litmanen gave them a scare by reducing arrears in the 79th minute.

The German side would also overcome English opposition in the semi-finals, defeating Manchester United FC on away goals before succumbing to Real Madrid CF in the final at Glasgow's Hampden Park.

Earlier that season, Liverpool held BV Borussia Dortmund to a scoreless draw at the Westfalenstadion as the Reds returned to the site of their 2000/01 UEFA Cup triumph for the first time. Vladimír Šmicer and Stephen Wright scored in the 2-0 win at Anfield which enabled Gérard Houllier's side to finish on top of the section.

Although Liverpool may have a strong record at home, but on their travels to Germany the Reds have only won once in 13 attempts, although ten draws highlight a defensive mean streak. Leverkusen clearly lack Liverpool's historical involvement in UEFA competition, but have frequently faced English sides with mixed fortunes at home. In five matches at the BayArena, their sole victory came against Liverpool, with two draws and two defeats in other games.

Their most recent engagements against English opposition came in the group stages of the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League. Drawn against eventual pool winners Manchester United FC, Leverkusen first lost 2-1 at the BayArena to two Ruud van Nistelrooij goals before going down at Old Trafford to another goal from the Dutchman and one from Juan Sebastián Verón. But Leverkusen won three of their other four matches to finish second to United and take their place in the second group stage where Newcastle United FC provided their opposition on two occasions. Leverkusen found the going tough, losing all six of their matches to Newcastle, FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano.