Champions League
2025-12-10 - Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Wednesday 10th December 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Bayer Leverkusen
In an eight game Group Stage, things can change pretty quickly for any team that can put a couple of good results together. Those from the big European Leagues would see elimination in the Champions League Group a huge disappointment and Bayer Leverkusen have gotten themselves back on track after a very impressive win at the Etihad Stadium on Match Day 5.
All of a sudden Bayer Leverkusen are not only pushed up into 17th place in the standings, but the 8 points on the board gives them an outside shot of earning a Bye into the Last 16 with a top eight finish. It likely means needing 7 points from the final three Group fixtures and hoping for other results to go their way, but Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to build on that victory over Manchester City at home where they have a 0-1-1 record in this competition.
Bayer Leverkusen had won 4 in a row in all competitions which culminated in the victory over Manchester City, but they have since lost 2 of 3 games played. The side had won 3 out of 4 home games played in all competitions, but Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 1-2 by Borussia Dortmund most recently here.
Newcastle United
The added commitments of playing in the Champions League alongside the Premier League has proven to be pretty challenging for Newcastle United, although the experience from two years ago has helped the squad. Back then they were eliminated in the Group Stage of the old format of the Champions League, but Newcastle United are well on course to reach the Knock Out Rounds in 2025/26 and the domestic form looks to be settling down too.
Most will feel that 16 points is needed to finish in the top eight of the Champions League Group and Newcastle United are 11th in the standings and with 9 points secured already. The Magpies have had a mixed away record domestically and in Europe and they head to Germany with a 1-0-1 away record in the Champions League where Newcastle United have scored 5 goals and conceded 2.
Newcastle United have lost 1 of the last 5 games played in all competitions and they have won 3 times in that run after seeing off Burnley this past weekend. However, they have not won consecutive fixtures since the end of October and Newcastle United had been beaten in 4 away games in succession before thumping Everton 1-4 at Hill Dickinson Stadium at the end of November.
Eddie Howe will rotate some of his players to keep them as fresh as possible- he is boosted by Yoane Wissa playing his first minutes since signing from Brentford, although the striker likely has to settle for a place on the bench again.
Head to Head
These clubs met in the 2002/03 Champions League second Group Stage that was used in the format of the competition.
Newcastle United won both games against the previous season's Runners Up by the same 3-1 scoreline.
Prediction
The winner of this match can place the Champions League on the back-burner knowing that they are in a decent position to attack the top eight in January, while the losing team are going to be pushing for a top sixteen spot in the New Year.
It makes this an important game and both Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United will be confident in imposing themselves on this fixture.
Both should have plenty of respect for the other after results earned in this Group Stage and this has the makings of being one of the more entertaining games of this round of fixtures.
Bayer Leverkusen will want to come forward at home, although that leaves them vulnerable to the pace of the Newcastle United counter attack. However, they will be well aware that Eddie Howe's team have had issues at the back, especially away from home, and both teams hitting the back of the net will not be a big surprise.
A point doesn't really do a lot for either team and so it would be a surprise if either manager chooses to employ tactics where a draw is a satisfactory result. Instead this should be a fixture featuring plenty of attacking drama and backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the right approach to take.
The Pick :
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Newcastle United
