Line-ups confirmed for Leverkusen x Newcastle in the 6th round of the Champions League at 5pm

Bayer Leverkusen faces Newcastle United this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, in the sixth round of the UEFA Liga of the The game takes place at 5pm Brasília time, equivalent to 8pm local time, with coach Kasper Hjulmand looking for his third consecutive victory in the competition. Newcastle, led by Eddie Howe, aims to surpass eighth place in the table, where they need points to advance to the knockout stages.

The confrontation brings together two teams at different times in Europa. Leverkusen occupies 17th place with eight points, after victories over Benfica and Manchester City, but is coming off a defeat at Bundesliga. Já Newcastle is in 11th with nine points, with a good offensive record, but a recent setback for Marseille.

• Both teams scored in three of the five Leverkusen games in the Champions.
• Newcastle leads in goals conceded, with just four in five matches.
• Patrik Schick seeks to maintain his streak of goals in European duels.

Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk referees the game, known for his low average number of cards, which favors a fluid rhythm.

Lineups confirmed at BayArena

Bayer Leverkusen adopts a 3-4-2-1 formation to balance defense and attack, with a focus on quick transitions. Mark Flekken guards the goal, while Robert Andrich acts as captain in defense alongside Loïc Badé and Edmond Tapsoba. In the middle, Aleix García and Ibrahim Maza control the pace, with Alejandro Grimaldo and Ernest Poku on the sides.

Patrik Schick leads the attack, supported by Malik Tillman and Claudio Echeverri, who bring creativity. Desfalques includes Exequiel Palacios, groin injured, and Jonas Hofmann, ineligible for Champions.

Newcastle opts for the classic 4-3-3, prioritizing ball possession and counterattacks. Aaron Ramsdale assumes the goal in the absence of Nick Pope, injured. The defense has Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall, with Bruno Guimarães as captain in midfield.

Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes flank Nick Woltemade in attack, exploiting speed. Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier are out due to posterior and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Recent form of European teams

Leverkusen recovered its momentum in Champions after an irregular start, with two draws and a defeat in the first three rounds. The 2-0 victory over Manchester City highlighted their defensive solidity, with no goals conceded in the last two games. However, the 2-0 defeat to Augsburg at the weekend exposed domestic weaknesses.

Kasper Hjulmand adjusted the team to prioritize clean sheets, something unprecedented in three consecutive victories in the club’s history in the competition. Alejandro Grimaldo, scorer of the first goal in Manchester, is doubtful due to muscle fatigue, but should play.

Newcastle alternates between good and bad results in Europa, with three initial victories followed by stumbles. The 2-1 conceded against Marseille broke a positive streak, but the team scored 11 goals, the best attack among medium-sized teams in the league phase.

Eddie Howe bets on Bruno Guimarães to dictate the pace, with the midfielder involved in 60% of recent offensive actions. The English team has won the last two meetings against the Germans, but has lost four of its six away games this season.

Embezzlements and impactful returns

Injuries mark both sides, forcing tactical adaptations. No Leverkusen, Ezequiel Fernández is doubtful due to a knee problem, while Janis Blaswich is recovering from a muscle injury. Lucas Vázquez also does not travel due to back pain, making room for young players like Nathan Tella on the bench.

Coach Hjulmand has the return of Martin Terrier, ineligible in Bundesliga, but available here, adding depth to the attack. Patrik Schick, with five goals in Champions, is the main offensive reinforcement.

Newcastle deals with an extensive list of absentees: Emil Krafth (knee), William Osula (ankle) and Fabian Schär (suspended) weaken the defense. Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey are options in the middle, but Howe prioritizes stability with Sandro Tonali back after suspension.

Bruno Guimarães, with 74 creativity in recent evaluations, leads the returns, while Anthony Elanga gains minutes on the wings. Esses adjustments aim to neutralize the German midfield, where Aleix García stands out with 79 creation.

Transmission and how to follow the duel

The match will be broadcast exclusively on HBO Max on Brasil, with a live signal starting at 4:30 pm on Brasília. The platform offers multiple angles, real-time statistics and post-game analysis, ideal for Champions fans.

Overseas, the game appears on channels including TNT Sports on Europa and beIN Sports in other markets, with streaming options via UEFA.tv for selected regions. Aplicativos as the UEFA official provide up-to-the-minute updates, including lineups and highlights.

For those who prefer radio, stations like ESPN Radio cover audio, with a focus on dynamic narration. The BayArena, with a capacity for 30,000 fans, is expected to be full, expanding the reach via the clubs’ official social networks.

Players in focus for victory

Aleix García appears as a key player in Leverkusen, with 65 attack and 79 creation in the last few games. The Spaniard distributes accurate balls to Schick, who has scored in 40% of his European matches. Sua’s vision of the game contrasts with the technique of Bruno Guimarães, captain of Newcastle.

Bruno commands the English midfield, involved in decisive passes and winning duels, with an average of 60% accuracy in long throws. Harvey Barnes, with seven goals this season, is a threat due to his speed, having finished 1.27 times per game in the Champions.

Patrik On the other side, Anthony Gordon, top scorer with four in Europa, explores counterattacks, finishing with precision in quick transitions.

These individual duels define the balance, with statistics pointing to possession divided at 52% for Leverkusen at home.

Tactical strategies in confrontation

Hjulmand plans to press high in the first 15 minutes, exploiting Newcastle’s mistakes in passing the ball, where the English lost possession 25% of the time away from home. The 3-4-2-1 formation allows attacking wingers, with Grimaldo crossing to Schick in lethal zones.

Howe responds with compact lines, using the 4-3-3 for counterattacks led by Gordon and Barnes. The low block defense, with Thiaw scoring Schick, aims to neutralize the German attack, which converted just 15% of shots in Champions.

Referee Gozubuyuk, with an average of 3.58 cards per game, allows fluidity, favoring technical teams. Leverkusen focuses on possession, with an average of 58% at home, while Newcastle focuses on efficiency, scoring 2.2 goals per European match.

Substitutions such as Echeverri in Leverkusen and Elanga in Newcastle can change the rhythm after the break, with a focus on physical fatigue observed in 70% of league stage games.

History and motivation for classification

The teams met twice in 2002-03, with Newcastle winning 3-1 in both games, including one at the BayArena. Esse retrospect adds pressure to the Germans, who are looking to reverse their historic disadvantage in the competition.

Leverkusen needs points to enter the top 8, where 11 points were enough last season for playoffs. With two games remaining, the victory makes it nine and opens the way against PSV and Sporting.

Newcastle, one point ahead, is aiming for eighth place straight away, facing PSG and Dortmund later. The current nine points reflect efficiency, but recent defeats add urgency, with Howe under pressure for European results.

Collective motivation raises the bar, with fans filling the stadium and global broadcasting amplifying the impact.