Bayer Leverkusen enter Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Villarreal knowing victory secures a knockout stage play-off place. A defeat could leave Bayer Leverkusen vulnerable, as they sit 20th and
depend on other Champions League results. Villarreal arrive in strong domestic form, so the Champions League fixture carries major weight for both clubs.
Kasper Hjulmand stresses that Bayer Leverkusen concentrate on controllable factors rather than the wider Champions League picture. The head coach accepts other scores may matter, yet wants Bayer Leverkusen to impose their own game. Villarreal, confident from LaLiga, aim to disrupt that plan and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Lucas Vazquez highlights the level Villarreal could bring against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. "They are having a great season in La Liga. Their team and players are very strong. They will come here to cause us problems," said the former Real Madrid man. "We are very well prepared for tomorrow and for the coming weeks. We are very keen to win the next few games, which are very important for the club. We have a great team and can achieve a lot together if we continue to work hard. "
Hjulmand outlines similar ambition for Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League clash with Villarreal, stressing a must-win attitude. "It's a really important game for us, we want to progress to the next round. That's our very clear goal," he said. "Should it be necessary, we will, of course, have the scores from the other games on the bench in the final phase of the game. But we play to win, that's our mentality. That's how we'll go into tomorrow's game. "
Recent Champions League home form presents a challenge for Hjulmand and Bayer Leverkusen against Villarreal. Hjulmand is winless in six home Champions League matches, with FC Nordsjaelland and Bayer Leverkusen. The record shows D1 L2 with FC Nordsjaelland, then D2 L1 with Bayer Leverkusen, plus 20 goals conceded, averaging 3.3 each game.
Only three coaches have more home Champions League games without victory than Hjulmand. Mustafa Denizli, Jindrich Trpisovsky and Vladimr Weiss each oversee seven such matches. Villarreal hold an unwanted Champions League mark as well, as the only Spanish side to play seven games in one European Cup or Champions League campaign, draw one, lose six, and fail to win.
Thoughts from @Lucasvazquez91 ahead of our UCL final league phase game! pic.twitter.com/NVEIG5fKVVBayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 27, 2026
Despite contrasting Champions League records, both Bayer Leverkusen and Villarreal enter this meeting with clear targets. Bayer Leverkusen seek control of their qualification path on home ground. Villarreal want to carry strong LaLiga momentum into Europe. The match therefore tests mentality, preparation and response to pressure for both squads and coaching staffs.
