Leverkusen arrive in Piraeus seeking respite from a stuttering start to 2026, having opened the new year with back-to-back Bundesliga defeats, including a narrow 1-0 loss at Hoffenheim last weekend. A return to continental action may be timely, as Kasper Hjulmand’s men look to consolidate their place inside the top 24 and potentially push toward the seeded positions in the final two league-phase rounds. After a sluggish European start [0W, 2D, 1L], Die Werkself have steadied themselves impressively, remaining unbeaten across the last three league-phase rounds [2W, 1D, 0L], including a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United, to move to 20th spot in the log with nine points [2W, 3D, 1L]. Robert Andrich is suspended, while Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Vázquez are among those ruled out. Patrik Schick is expected to start upfront in a 3—4—2—1 pattern.