Leverkusen out to stay perfect at Brest

• 5 reasons Leverkusen will see off Brest
• A closer look at bullish Boniface
• Bayer edged high-flying Frankfurt at the weekend
• Watch all of Leverkusen's Bundesliga goals this season
• Keep across all results involving Bundesliga clubs in Europe

Latest

Leverkusen have enjoyed a perfect start on their return to the Champions League and begin Matchday 3 as one of seven teams with two wins from two after beating Feyenoord and AC Milan, while also not conceding a single goal. They come into this clash on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over in-form Eintracht Frankfurt as they look to compete on all fronts this campaign. Robert Andrich and Victor Boniface were both on the scoresheet in that clash, and should keep their places in the starting line-up for this trip to France. Xabi Alonso has a clean bill of health for this encounter, with Florian Wirtz also available after coming on from the bench against Frankfurt. The Spaniard has rotated his side for Champions League matches this term, so the likes of Amine Adli and Aleix García could be in contention for the starting XI here.

After a historic 2023/24 campaign that saw them qualify for continental footbal for the first time in their history, Brest have struggled to juggle their commitments this season, which has seen their Ligue 1 form suffer. However, they were victorious in each of their first two Champions League matches, with a 4-0 win away at Red Bull Salzburg last time out particularly eye-catching. At the Stade du Roudourou - the Pirates are having to play their European games at local rivals Guingamp's stadium this term instead of their Stade Francis-Le Blé - they will be without key player Abdallah Sima, who already has three Champions League goals this term, due to a hamstring issue. Bradley Locko will also be unavailable because of an achilles tendon problem, but Eric Roy will otherwise have a full squad to choose from as his team looks to continue their fairytale journey.

Watch: Analysing Leverkusen's Boniface

Match stats

• Leverkusen have lost just two of their past 63 games in all competitions.
• Die Werkself are unbeaten in their past three visits to France, winning two and drawing one.
• Leverkusen have won seven of their 13 matches against French opposition, losing four and drawing the other two.
• This will be Brest's first-ever match against a German club, with this campaign representing their maiden involvement in any European competition.
• Ludovic Ajorque and Soumaïla Coulibaly previously played in Germany, turning out for Mainz and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
• Leverkusen are yet to concede in this season's Champions League.

Probable teams

Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Tella, García, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Adli, Wirtz - Boniface
Out: -
Doubtful: - 
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Brest: Bizot - Lala, Le Cardinal, Coulibaly, Haidara - Fernandes, Magnetti (c), Camara - Del Castillo, Ajorque, Sima
Out: Locko (ineligible), Zogbé (ineligible)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Eric Roy

LIVE blog!