Lokomotiv Moscow Vs Bayer Leverkusen
Tuesday 26 November 2019 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: BetFred
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
Preview: The bottom two in Group D meet inside the RZD Arena in Moscow, Russia for a game neither can afford to lose. Even a draw has the potential to eliminate both from the competition – should Atletico Madrid collect at least a point in Turin – such is the significance of this penultimate fixture between Lokomotiv Moscow and Bayer Leverkusen.
Lokomotiv Moscow Vs Bayer Leverkusen Live Stats & Betting Odds
Lokomotiv Moscow Preview – Leaky backline to hinder Russian ambitions?
This club had to wait a long time before making its long-awaited return to the group stages of this season’s Champions League (their last such appearance coming in 2004-05). Winning the opening game therefore, when stunning Bayer Leverkusen in Germany to win 2-1, represented an excellent start for Lokomotiv Moscow (3rd – W1 D0 L3, GF4 GA7). Unfortunately, it seems the Russians are going to pay the price for failing to build on such a promising opening.
Since making a triumphant return to the competition to clinch all three points in Germany back in September, Lokomotiv Moscow have fallen to three successive defeats – losing home and away to Juventus (both 2-1 scorelines), despite taking the lead in both meetings, and barely troubling a savvy Atletico Madrid at home (0-2). A fourth loss on the spin could see them eliminated from European competition altogether, especially if emphatic in margin.
Yuri Semen’s outsiders – they were the least likely to challenge in this group, according to bookmakers – should, at very least, be commended for keep all their contests competitive thus far. Their position within the group, though, is such that victory here is absolutely imperative. Their recent form, on the other hand, suggests they will have to raise their game considerably: one win in the last six games in all competitions (W1 D2 L3) is compounded by the lack of a single clean sheet in that time.
Bayer Leverkusen Preview – Germans setting sights firmly on maximum points?
In producing a minor upset last time out, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 in Germany, Bayer Leverkusen (4th – W1 D0 L3, GF4 GA7) handed themselves a reprieve. Prior to that positive result, the team had slumped to three consecutive defeats – losing at home to Lokomotiv Moscow (1-2) and away to both Juventus (3-0) and Atletico Madrid (1-0) – to leave them rock-bottom of the section on zero points and seemingly destined for elimination. Suddenly, however, there is renewed hope.
Three points in Russia would seize the initiative from their upcoming opponents in the battle to finish third (in order to remain in contention for a top-two finish they would need Atletico Madrid slipping up against Juventus). Victory by two clear goals, however, would wrap up third by virtue of the head-to-head rule. So there is certainly no shortage of incentive, although this would require the Germans notching their first away goals of the competition, after previously firing blanks in Italy and Spain.
Drawing 1-1 at home with Freiburg at the weekend wasn’t exactly ideal preparation either, although the overall performance (bossing possession and creating a lot more of the scoring chances) merited more. The previous league fixture also seen them inflict a first home defeat of the season on Wolfsburg, winning 2-0. Evidence, perhaps, that Leverkusen, who are in decent enough form with just one loss in six matches (W3 D2 L1), are capable of producing the sort of away display that is needed in Russia on Tuesday.
Lokomotiv Moscow Vs Bayer Leverkusen Key Facts:
- Lokomotiv Moscow would record their first win in any competition for six matches (W1 D2 L3) on Friday, edging out FC Tambov to win 3-2 away from home in the Russian Premier League.
- Bayer Leverkusen have suffered one loss in their previous six competitive games (W3 D2 L1), a run that includes a 2-1 home victory on the previous matchday against Atletico Madrid.
- The Matchday One meeting between the two teams finished 2-1 to Lokomotiv Moscow in Germany, with all three goals scored inside the opening half.
Betting Summary
The prize for winning this match is a guaranteed berth into at least the knockout rounds of the Europa League. The problem, though, is that Lokomotiv Moscow have not been doing an awful lot of winning lately. In this competition, it is three straight defeats since beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in Germany. Overall, the Russian side have mustered a solitary win from their last six matches (W1 D2 L3) – conceding two goals on four separate occasions.
For Bayer Leverkusen, winning this match feels like a must. Losing the reverse encounter at home means Peter Bosz’s team lag behind in the head-to-head, leaving them having to win in Russia to climb above their opponents. Victory against Atletico Madrid in their latest group fixture halted a three match losing run in this competition, but does at least provide them with a platform to push on. Meanwhile, their last six fixtures in all competitions have garnered three wins (W3 D2 L1).
Bayer Leverkusen are in the better form overall, however, Lokomotiv Moscow have made games difficult for their opponents so far. A better route into this contest could be goals. Both these teams have seen three of their four group games produce at least three goals, which could deliver again in a game neither side can really afford to settle for less than three points.
