Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen Set for German Clash in Champions League Round of 16
The Champions League knockout stage is set to kick off with a highly anticipated German showdown between record champions Bayern Munich and reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. The two Bundesliga giants will face off in the Round of 16 on March 4/5 and 11/12, marking their fourth and fifth encounter this season after two league clashes and a cup match. Borussia Dortmund will take on OSC Lille of France in the same round, as revealed by the draw conducted by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
The first leg of the Bayern-Leverkusen tie will be played in Munich due to Bayern’s inferior record in the group stage, which forced them to navigate the playoffs. The decisive second leg will take place a week later in Leverkusen. The previous two league encounters between the sides ended in draws, while Bayer emerged victorious in the DFB Cup with a 1-0 triumph in Munich, solidifying their status as title favorites.
Under the revamped UEFA Champions League format, the two German clubs had limited opponent options. Instead of two Spanish-German clashes, the draw has pitted them against each other. Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will face off in a city derby to determine a quarterfinalist.
"We’ll see what happens. When you talk about European football, you want to play internationally," said Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl prior to the draw, hinting at a slight preference for Atlético. While Leverkusen must face their biggest domestic rival, they avoided a clash with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and its superstar Kylian Mbappé.
The tournament’s path to the final on May 31 in Munich has also been established. The winner of Bayern vs. Leverkusen will face Inter Milan or Feyenoord Rotterdam in the quarterfinals. FC Barcelona or Dortmund could be potential semifinal opponents.
Borussia Dortmund, after overcoming Sporting Lisbon in the playoffs, have been paired with another underdog in Lille. "Honestly, it doesn’t matter who we play in the end," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl after the draw. Currently languishing in 11th place in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are under immense domestic pressure. The first leg against Lille will be played at home.
Additional Insights
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The German clubs’ form in the Champions League so far has been contrasting. Bayern have won all six group stage matches, scoring 18 goals and conceding none. Leverkusen, on the other hand, finished second in their group behind Porto, with three wins, two draws, and one loss.
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The Bundesliga has a strong presence in this year’s Champions League knockout stage, with three clubs represented. Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the Europa League last season, are the third German side, and they will face Napoli in the Round of 16.
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The clash between Bayern and Leverkusen is a rematch of the 2002 Champions League final, which Bayern won 2-1. It will be the first time the two clubs have met in the knockout stage of the competition since 2012.
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Bayer Leverkusen have never reached the semifinals of the Champions League, while Bayern have lifted the trophy six times, most recently in 2020.
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The 2024 Champions League final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London, England. It will be the first time the final has been played in England since 2013.
