Leverkusen aim to add Arsenal to impressive record against English opponents

Arsenal travel to Bayer Leverkusen this evening for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Mikel Arteta’s side will start as strong favourites against their German hosts, having produced a perfect record in this season’s Champions League. However, Leverkusen have a strong record when it comes to taking on Premier League teams in knockout ties.

Despite a modest overall head-to-head record against English opponents, Leverkusen have progressed from four of their five two-legged ties with Premier League teams.

Bayer Leverkusen’s brilliant 2001/02 side reached the Champions League final, eliminating English opposition during a memorable run. Leverkusen had lost to Arsenal in the second group stage, but topped the group ahead of the Gunners.

Klaus Topmoller’s side then secured a second-leg fightback when meeting Liverpool in the last eight.

Sami Hyypia’s goal had given Liverpool a 1-0 lead to take to Germany, only for Leverkusen to turn the tie around with a 4-2 win in the return.

– Thursday, 9 April 2020

A thrilling clash saw Lucio’s late goal send Leverkusen through, after earlier efforts from Michael Ballack (2) and Dimitar Berbatov.

Beating Liverpool was impressive, but the club’s semi-final win over Manchester United made a real statement. Leverkusen trailed three times in the tie, but on each occasion found an equaliser.

Goals from Ballack and Oliver Neuville earned the Germans a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, before Neuville cancelled out Roy Keane’s opener in Leverkusen to send the hosts through on away goals.

– Friday, 30 April 2021

Their dream run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final, courtesy of Zinedine Zidane’s majestic volley.

The only knockout tie that Leverkusen have lost to an English opponent came in 2004/05, with Liverpool far too strong over two legs.

Rafael Benitez’s side won 3-1 in both legs to seal a comfortable passage to the last eight, with Luis Garcia scoring three goals across the tie.

– Friday, 27 February 2026

That win kick-started the momentum that ended with Champions League success, after that famous night against AC Milan in Istanbul.

Can Arsenal follow a similar path?

Leverkusen beat Blackburn in the UEFA Cup’s last 16 in 2006/07, ending Rovers’ European campaign. The damage was done in the first meeting, as the German side won 3-2 on the night.

David Bentley had cancelled out Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker’s opener for Leverkusen, but further goals from Carsten Ramelow and Bernd Schneider saw Leverkusen take a first-leg lead.

Shabani Nonda’s late effort for Blackburn set up a tense return, but a goalless draw saw Leverkusen through.

The most recent two-legged tie between Leverkusen and English opponents saw the Germans beat West Ham in the Europa League.

Late goals from Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface secured a dominant victory at the BayArena, for a Leverkusen side who ended the campaign as German champions for the first time – without losing a game.

– Thursday, 11 April 2024

Michail Antonio’s opener in the return sparked optimism around a fightback, but a late Jeremie Frimpong goal ended Hammers’ hopes.

Read – Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news

See more – Julian Alvarez says transfer is possible amid Arsenal links

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