Leverkusen fights against bad luck with injuries: line-up for the Champions League duel!

Leverkusen fights against bad luck with injuries: line-up for the Champions League duel!

Today, November 4th, 2025, Bayer 04 Leverkusen has an exciting duel in the Champions League on the agenda. The team faces SL Benfica and the line-up looks promising, even if some key players are injured or suspended. kicker.at reports that the expected starting eleven looks like this:

• Torwart: Flekken
• Abwehr: Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba
• Mittelfeld: Aleix Garcia, Maza
• Angriff: Arthur, Echeverri, Grimaldo, Poku
• Stürmer: Kofane

The reserve bench is well staffed, but the absence of numerous players is noticeable. Although the team can rely on a talented second line, the departures due to injuries are likely to require coaching:

• Andrich (Rotsperre)
• E. Fernandez (Bänderverletzung im Knie)
• Hofmann (nicht gemeldet)
• N. Mensah (nicht berücksichtigt)
• Palacios (Operation nach Muskel-Sehnenverletzung an den Adduktoren)
• Tape (Muskel-Sehnenverletzung an der Oberschenkel-Rückseite)
• Tella (Knieprobleme)
• Terrier (nicht gemeldet)
• Vazquez (muskuläre Probleme)

Who will be on the pitch today?

It is a particular challenge that defensive midfielder Maza is expected to be the starting player due to three injured midfielders. Furthermore, it will be exciting to see whether Kofane will be used as a striker instead of the regular penalty area striker Schick, who will be needed in the upcoming game against Heidenheim, as [transfermarkt.de indicates](https://www.transfermarkt.de/bayer-04-leverkusen/sperrund reisen/verein/15).

The situation surrounding Tapsoba, who is currently burdened with two yellow cards, is particularly important. Another card reception could take him out of action for subsequent games, which would of course be a major disadvantage for the defensive line.

The situation in the team

The injury and suspension situation is causing unrest in the team, but the talent and depth of the squad could balance things out. Even though many players are missing, it shows that Leverkusen has a good hand and has the opportunity to collect important points in the Champions League.

In today's world, when injuries and absences are often seen as major challenges, it is often shown that substitute players also shine and use their opportunity to prove themselves. The example of Mabel, who despite being 171 cm tall (equivalent to about 5 feet 7 inches), has great talent and technique, has already proven that you can't let failures get you down completely, as thecalculatorsite.com has analyzed.

Today it's time for Leverkusen to give it their all and delight the spectators with a lively game. This is the only way to be at the top of the list in the Champions League and prepare for the challenges ahead.