Bayer Leverkusen - The lowdown on Bayern's Champions League last-16 opponents

An all-German affair in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition! FC Bayern face Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Champions League round of 16, following the draw in Nyon on Friday. The Bavarians will host the Werkself at the Allianz Arena in the first leg on 4 or 5 March, with the second leg taking place a week later in Leverkusen on 11 or 12 March. We examine Bayern's last-16 opponents more closely.

It's a while since Bayern last came up against a team from their own country in European competition. The last time this happened was in 2013 in the Wembley final triumph over Borussia Dortmund. It's even longer since a two-legged encounter with a Bundesliga club: in the quarter-finals of the UCL in 1999, FCB convincingly saw off 1. FC Kaiserslautern 6-0 on aggregate. Now it's time for the next domestic duel.

The defending double winners from Leverkusen are enjoying one of the best periods in the club's history. Bayer 04 ended the league phase of this season's competition in sixth place with 16 points, with wins including a 4-0 victory away to Bayern conquerors Feyenoord as well as against Inter and AC Milan. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself are Bayern's closest challengers in the title race, trailing by eight points.

The Leverkusen squad

250129-florian-wirtz-ima — Florian Wirtz is impressing again this season. | Imago

The Bayer squad stands out in particular for its great variability in attack. This allows Xabi Alonso to regularly switch his system, sometimes playing with a centre-forward but at other times just playing with two fast and skilful attacking players, as was the case in last weekend's league match against Bayern. Florian Wirtz is the playmaker for the Werkself. The 21-year-old has carried on his excellent form from last season and is impressing again this term with 15 goals and 12 assists. Midfield linchpin Granit Xhaka and defensive leader Jonathan Tah are also key to Leverkusen's play. Their deadliest player in front of goal this season is Czech international Patrik Schick, who has notched 20 goals in all competitions.

Head-to-head record

08-lev-fcb-250215-ima — Leverkusen and Bayern played out a goalless draw on Matchday 22. | Imago

There have been 102 competitive meetings to date between Bayern and Leverkusen. The record is clearly in the Munich men's favour with 60 wins, 20 draws and 22 losses. That said, FCB are now winless in six games against the Werkself after the recent 0-0 draw on Bundesliga Matchday 22.