Mansion Sports – A prestigious encounter returns on matchday five of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League, as Manchester City prepare to host Bayer Leverkusen.

The two European contenders will meet at the Etihad Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for Tuesday, 25 November 2025 at 20:00 local time.

Manchester City enter this match aiming to regain momentum in the Premier League after another setback, while Bayer Leverkusen arrive in England with strong form and heightened confidence.

City currently hold 10 points from their first four matches, placing them fourth in the league phase—17 spots above Leverkusen, who sit in 21st position. Despite the gap, the visitors are riding a wave of positive performances.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Manchester City

At the close of Premier League gameweek 12, Manchester City had an opportunity to narrow the gap to just one point behind Arsenal.

However, should Arsenal win their match against Tottenham Hotspur, that margin will instead widen to seven points.

Their fixture against Newcastle United became the turning point. After an hour of goalless play, the match shifted dramatically within ten minutes.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring, Ruben Dias equalised, and Barnes netted again to secure a 2–1 victory for Newcastle.

The defeat halted City’s run of four consecutive wins and raised new concerns about their consistency.

In the Champions League, however, City have shown greater stability. Their only losses came against three of the tournament’s strongest teams—Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan—while they produced an emphatic 4–1 win over Borussia Dortmund in their previous fixture.

City’s home record in the Champions League remains formidable. They are unbeaten in 23 league-phase matches at the Etihad, winning 20 of them. In their last seven home victories, they have scored at least two goals.

Bayer Leverkusen

Even so, the Etihad’s strength will be tested by a Bayer Leverkusen side rejuvenated under new manager Kasper Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag.

Under his leadership, Leverkusen secured their first Champions League victory of the season with a 1–0 win over Benfica.

Their momentum carried into the Bundesliga, where they crushed Heidenheim 6–0 before defeating Wolfsburg 3–1, climbing to second place in the standings.

Of their last nine matches in all competitions, seven have ended in victory. Another Champions League win would mark a significant milestone, bringing them to their 50th triumph in the competition.

Adding to the intrigue, this match will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen.

Predicted Lineups for Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen November 2025

Below is the projected lineup for both teams, complete with formations and head coaches.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1)

City remain without Rodri and Mateo Kovacic. Rodri is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Kovacic continues rehabilitation for an ankle issue expected to require extended time.

With a largely fit squad otherwise, Pep Guardiola is expected to rotate his players to restore energy levels, giving opportunities to John Stones, Tijjani Reijnders, and Savinho to start.

Despite a subdued performance in their previous match, Erling Haaland remains the central threat, backed by his remarkable Champions League scoring record.

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1)

Leverkusen will be without Robert Andrich, who serves the second match of a two-game suspension received after a red card against Paris Saint-Germain. Edmond Tapsoba is also unavailable due to card accumulation.

With these absences, Jarell Quansah is expected to join Loïc Badé and Jeanuel Belocian in the defensive line.

In midfield, Ibrahim Maza and Aleix Garcia remain the primary options, as injuries continue to sideline Equi Fernández and Exequiel Palacios.

Although Maza sustained a minor knock, he is still projected to feature. Meanwhile, Lucas Vázquez, Arthur, and backup goalkeeper Janis Blaswich remain unavailable.

Closing Notes

The meeting between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen on matchday five of the 2025/2026 Champions League presents a compelling narrative, from fluctuating form and tactical adjustments to how both sides adapt to key player absences.

With City’s formidable home record and Leverkusen’s resurgence under new leadership, this clash carries the potential for unexpected developments.