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 vs Liverpool – 2001/02 UCL quarter-finals (agg: 4-3)
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.
📅 Michael Ballack scores twice – including THIS effort – #OTD in 2002 🚀#UCL | #OnThisDay | @bayer04_en pic.twitter.com/Mm655mFnCo
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 9, 2020
A thrilling clash saw Lucio’s late goal send Leverkusen through, after earlier efforts from Michael Ballack (2) and Dimitar Berbatov.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Man United – 2001/02 UCL semi-finals (agg: 3-3, Leverkusen win on away goals)
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.
⏪ Oliver Neuville sends Leverkusen to the final, #OTD in 2002@bayer04\_en | #UCL pic.twitter.com/8K1YZrAUoR
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 30, 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.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Liverpool – 2004/05 UCL last 16 (agg: 2-6)
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.
1 – Bayer Leverkusen have progressed from four of their five of their major European knockout ties against English clubs, but the one side to knock them out – Liverpool in the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League – went on to win the trophy that season. History. pic.twitter.com/WnoSuzHJD9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 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?
Bayer Leverkusen vs Blackburn – 2006/07 UEFA Cup last 16 (agg: 3-2)
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.
Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham – 2023/24 UEL quarter-finals (agg: 3-1)
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.
🔨 Leverkusen 𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙈𝙀𝙍𝙀𝘿 West Ham in the first-leg…
𝟳𝟮% possession 🔢
𝟯𝟯 shots 🥅
𝟮-𝟬 win ✅ pic.twitter.com/LfscH9XEjL
— LiveScore (@livescore) April 11, 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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