Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica are two of the Champions League’s perennial dark horses, but they’re unfortunate to have been drawn in a very even group this year. In Group C there are no great teams to take points from everyone, and there are no bad teams from which you can guarantee three points. It’s as unpredictable as any matchup in the tournament.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Benfica, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Team news and game preview
Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica both head into their match looking to bounce back from opening day defeats.
Michael Kienzler
Both Bayer and Benfica suffered defeats on the opening matchday, with the former seen off by Monaco and the latter by Zenit St. Petersburg. It means neither can afford to suffer another defeat in their clash in Germany on Wednesday, or they run the risk of their continental campaign being over almost before it has begun. It should be a feisty, tight game, and it’ll be well worth watching.
Key player - Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica)
Nicolás Gaitán has been Benfica’s best player for a few years now, and yet bizarrely no bigger team has been willing to take him on and give him a chance in one of Europe’s major leagues. Not that that’s a bad thing for Benfica, of course. He’s sometimes a nominal winger, and at other times a central attacking midfielder, but his position isn’t really important -- he drifts laterally across the field from wherever he’s deployed. Superb in one-on-ones and a fine passer, he’ll be a big part of any success Benfica have in this match.
Key matchup - Son Heung-min vs. Maxi Pereira
However, the most naturally talented player on the pitch in this match will probably be Son Heung-min, who is usually deployed on the left of Bayer Leverkusen's attack. The young Korean is a very versatile forward, and has scored in double figures in the last couple of seasons in the Bundesliga. However, he's as dangerous when it comes to carving out chances for teammates as he is scoring himself, and Benfica's attack-minded right-back Maxi Pereira can't afford to give him the freedom of the left flank.
Bayer Leverkusen injuries and suspensions
Out: Julian Brandt, Simon Rolfes (ankle), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (shoulder). In doubt: Gonzalo Castro (muscular).
Benfica injuries and suspensions
Out: Artur Moraes (suspended), Rúben Amorim (knee). In doubt: None.
Bayer Leverkusen will still be without young playmaker Julian Brandt, veteran defensive midfielder Simon Rolfes and centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos, though industrious midfielder Gonzalo Castro could be back from a muscular problem. For Benfica, goalkeeper Artur is suspended after being sent off in their defeat to Zenit, while midfielder Rúben Amorim faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
TV: Fox Soccer Plus, Directv (U.S.) Sky Sports Red Button (U.K.), Sky Sport 2/HD (Germany), Sport TV1 (Portugal)
Online: Fox Soccer 2Go, ESPN3 Online-App (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go (U.K and Germany)
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