Kasper Hjulmand Calls For Bayer Leverkusen To Reclaim Home Comforts Against Newcastle United

Kasper Hjulmand has called on his Bayer Leverkusen squad to deliver an unforgettable performance against Newcastle United in the Champions League at BayArena. Leverkusen have impressed with recent away victories, including a 2-0 win over Manchester City. Despite these successes, they have struggled at home, losing 7-2 to Paris Saint-Germain and drawing 1-1 with PSV.

Leverkusen's recent form in Europe has been promising, with two consecutive wins without conceding. They last achieved three straight wins in the 2014-15 group stage but have never won three in a row without conceding. Hjulmand is eager for his team to replicate their away success on home ground.

The Opta supercomputer gives Leverkusen just a 9.6% chance of finishing in the top eight, which would secure automatic qualification for the last 16. However, they remain optimistic about boosting their chances, having won two of their last three Champions League matches against English teams.

Leverkusen's history with Newcastle dates back to the 2002-03 UEFA competition when Newcastle triumphed 3-1 both home and away. Jarell Quansah, who faced Newcastle during his time at Liverpool, brings valuable experience to the team.

Quansah made his Premier League debut against Newcastle in August 2023 and never lost to them while at Liverpool. He acknowledges the challenge posed by Eddie Howe's side but echoes Hjulmand's call for a home victory. "It will be a super tough game like any team in the Champions League," Quansah said.

Hjulmand expressed excitement about playing at home: "After the two Champions League away wins, we've got a push." He emphasised the importance of performing well in front of their fans: "A Champions League home game is something special."

Leverkusen's recent record against English teams is encouraging. They have matched their total wins from their first 17 meetings with English clubs in just three recent games. This statistic boosts their confidence as they prepare for another challenging encounter.

The Werkself are currently positioned 17th out of 36 teams but are only two points shy of the top eight. Achieving this position would ensure automatic progression to the competition's last 16 stage.

The upcoming match offers Leverkusen an opportunity to improve their standing and delight their supporters with a memorable performance at BayArena.