Bayer Leverkusen v Lokomotiv Moscow and PSG v Real Madrid

Bayer Leverkusen v Lokomotiv Moscow
Wednesday 18 September, 10:00 EAT
Bayer Leverkusen must dust themselves before their Champions League clash with Lokomotiv Moscow, having suffered a humiliating defeat over the weekend.

Borussia Dortmund beat them 4-0, inflicting Leverkusen’s first defeat of the season. Julian Brandt left Leverkusen in the summer after Peter Bosz successfully converted him into a central midfielder who was crucial to a run that saw Leverkusen finish fourth.

Lokomotiv Moscow were runners-up in the Russian Premier League last season and will be hoping to go one better and reclaim the title that they won in 2017-18. So far they are fifth after nine matches only three points behind the leaders Krasnodar.

Juventus and Atletico Madrid are also in Group D, it’s going to be tough for either Bayer Leverkusen or Lokomotiv Moscow to reach the last-16 of the Champions League.

PSG vs Real Madrid
Wed 18 Sept, 10:00 EAT

Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe are missing for PSG because of injury. Neymar is suspended this means PSG are without their ideal front three. Mauro Icardi is a contender to lead the attack and Angel Di Maria will have a key role.

Real Madrid, Marcelo, Nacho and Sergio Ramos are out. Summer signing Ferland Mendy is expected to start at left-back. Luka Modric is also absent. James Rodriguez is tipped to start in a midfield trio alongside Casemiro and Toni Kroos.

PSG have already dropped points in Ligue 1 – they lost 2-1 in Rennes on August 18 – and needed an injury-time Neymar goal on the Brazilian’s return from injury last Saturday to snatch a 1-0 win over Strasbourg.

Real Madrid are W2-D2-L0 in La Liga and still looking to hit top notes, they will be without some important players, making their potential performance level even more difficult to read. The presence of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard,means the visitors are better-equipped than PSG in attack and will be confident of troubling PSG’s back line.