Bayer Leverkusen know they have an opportunity to edge closer to a place in the Champions League knockout stages by pushing Roma to the brink of elimination at the BayArena tonight.
Roma’s surprise defeat at BATE Borisov means Leverkusen have the chance of putting five points between the two sides with a home victory before travelling to the Stadio Olimpico in a fortnight’s time.
With BATE facing group leaders – and the overwhelming favourites to win the group – Barcelona home and away in the next two weeks, the top two in the group could leave the bottom two scrapping for third place with wins today, and that is Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt’s aim.
“We know that Roma are under pressure after their defeat in Borisov,” he said.
“After these two matches, there will be a clear tendency as to who will be joining Barca in the knockout stages.”
Roma’s challenge in this double-header with Leverkusen will be to ensure they are still in the running when they head to Barcelona at the end of November, to set up a decider on the final matchday, when they host BATE and Leverkusen face the holders.
One man who played five years for both clubs is Brazilian defender Juan, now at Internacional of Porto Alegre and supporting the Giallorossi from a distance.
“Leverkusen are a young team who play quick football and caused problems to Barcelona, but if Roma play the way they can do, then they won’t have any problems,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m supporting Roma. I think this is the year when they can win the Scudetto again.
“I love the way they play, both at home and away. It’s always exciting to watch Roma play.”
A sold-out BayArena will have that pleasure tonight, although they may not get to see Leverkusen captain Lars Bender, who faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury.
Stefan Kiessling is also a doubt after missing training yesterday, but Kevin Kampl is back for the hosts.
Former Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger and ex-Wolfsburg forward Edin Dzeko are both in the Roma travelling party and set to bring their Bundesliga experience to the table tonight after recent injury absences.
Group E
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Barcelona | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| B. Leverkusen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| B. Borisov | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Roma | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
B. Leverkusen vs B. Borisov - 4-1
Roma vs Barcelona - 1-1
Barcelona vs B. Leverkusen - 2-1
B. Borisov vs Roma - 3-2
B. Borisov vs Barcelona - today
B. Leverkusen vs Roma - today
04-11-2015: Barcelona vs B. Borisov
04-11-2015: Roma vs B. Leverkusen
24-11-2015: B. Borisov vs B. L’kusen
24-11-2015: Barcelona vs Roma
09-12-2015: B. L’kusen vs Barcelona
09-12-2015: Roma vs B. Borisov
Group F
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| B. Munich | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Olympiakos | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| D. Zagreb | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
D. Zagreb vs Arsenal - 2-1
Olympiakos vs Bayern Munich - 0-3
Bayern Munich vs D. Zagreb - 5-0
Arsenal vs Olympiakos - 2-3
Arsenal vs B. Munich - today
D. Zagreb vs Olympiakos - today
04-11-2015: B. Munich vs Arsenal
04-11-2015: Olympiakos vs D. Zagreb
24-11-2015: Arsenal vs D. Zagreb
24-11-2015: B. Munich vs Olym’kos
09-12-2015: D. Zagreb vs B. Munich
09-12-2015: Olympiakos vs Arsenal
Group G
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| D. Kiev | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Porto | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Maccabi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Dynamo Kiev vs Porto - 2-2
Chelsea vs Maccabi - 4-0
Mac. Tel Aviv vs D. Kiev - 0-2
Porto vs Chelsea - 2-1
Porto vs Maccabi Tel Aviv - today
D. Kiev vs Chelsea - today
04-11-2015: Maccabi vs Porto
04-11-2015: Chelsea vs D. Kiev
24-11-2015: Porto vs D. Kiev
24-11-2015: Maccabi vs Chelsea
09-12-2015: D. Kiev vs Maccabi
09-12-2015: Chelsea vs Porto
Group H
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Zenit SP | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Valencia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Ghent | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Valencia vs Zenit SP - 2-3
Ghent vs Lyon - 1-1
Lyon vs Valencia - 0-1
Zenit SP vs Ghent - 2-1
Zenit SP vs Lyon - today
Valencia vs Ghent - today
04-11-2015: Lyon vs Zenit SP
04-11-2015: Ghent vs Valencia
24-11-2015: Zenit SP vs Valencia
24-11-2015: Lyon vs Ghent
09-12-2015: Valencia vs Lyon
09-12-2015: Ghent vs Zenit SP
Playing tomorrow
Group A
Malmo vs S. Donetsk
Paris SG vs Real Madrid
Standings: R. Madrid, Paris SG 6; Malmo, S. Donetsk 0.
Group B
CSKA Moscow vs Man. United
Wolfsburg vs PSV
Standings: PSV, CSKA, Manchester United, Wolfsburg 3.
GROUP C
Atletico Madrid vs Astana
Galatasaray vs Benfica
Standings: Benfica 6; Atletico Madrid 3; Astana, Galatasaray 1.
GROUP D
Juventus vs B. M’gladbach
Man. City vs Sevilla
Standings: Juventus 6; Sevilla, Man. City 3; B. M’gladbach 0.