Bayer Leverkusen vs Chelsea Match Preview
Bayer Leverkusen will play host to Chelsea in a crucial UEFA Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea currently lead a tight Group E table, with Leverkusen only two points behind them in second place. Leverkusen have only a one-point cushion above third placed Valencia, who will be playing host to last placed Genk.
Winger Sidney Sam will be a key figure for Leverkusen, and believes his teammate Michael Ballack will be a big influence during the game.
“Michael Ballack has international experience and is a great player, and he can help us young players,” Sam told the official UEFA website. “Of course he has been giving us advice. Chelsea is his old club and he can help us.”
Chelsea opened Group E play with a 2-0 home win over Leverkusen, but have had some struggles since then.
Chelsea have won only one of their last four games in all competitions, and manager Andre Villas-Boas is finding himself under fire after some high profile defeats in the Premier League.
Villas-Boas has answered questions this week about his job security, and will be keen to progress in this tournament to ease those concerns.
Michael Essien is a long term injury absentee for the Blues, while striker Fernando Torres is expected to the return to the starting lineup.