The second leg of the 2025/26 Champions League round-of-16 tie between Arsenal (England) and Bayer (Germany) will take place on 17 March at the Emirates Stadium in London. The first leg finished 1:1. Arsenal vs Bayer: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Arsenal
Arsenal drew the first leg with Bayer, although the hosts managed to avoid defeat thanks to a penalty goal a few minutes before the final whistle – 1:1. That draw ended the team’s run of eight straight wins in the Champions League, while their scoring streak extended to 10 matches. At the same time, after four consecutive clean sheets, the home side have conceded in four of their last five games in this competition. To progress to the next round, Mikel Arteta’s men need to win the return leg, something the hosts have done successfully in every home game in the 2025/26 Champions League.
- In six of their last seven Champions League matches, the club have scored at least three goals.
- There have been goals in both halves in five of the Londoners’ previous six matches in this tournament.
- At home, the team have won nine of their last 11 Champions League matches (one draw, one defeat).
Potential Arsenal Lineup (3-4-3)
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Cristian Mosquera, Cristian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori – Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke – Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka.
Defender Jurrien Timber and midfielders Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are sidelined through injury.
Bayer
Bayer are unbeaten in four Champions League matches (two wins, two draws). A draw in the upcoming game would take the tie to extra time, so to avoid that the visitors need to win. Bayer have won three of their last four away matches in this competition, although the club have lost in six straight Champions League last-16 ties. It is also worth adding that the goal they conceded against Arsenal was their first in their previous four matches in this European competition.
- At least one team have failed to score in six of Bayer’s previous eight Champions League matches.
- The team have scored in five of their last seven away games in the Champions League.
- Bayer have failed to win nine of their previous 13 away matches in this tournament (five draws, four defeats).
Potential Bayer Lineup (3-4-3)
Janos Blaswich – Robert Andrich, Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba – Alejandro Grimaldo, Ibrahim Maza, Aleix Garcia, Exequiel Palacios – Christian Kofane, Martin Terrier, Ernest Poku.
Defenders Lucas Vazquez, Arthur and Loic Bade, as well as midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir, are injured.
Referee
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Matches – 12 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 32;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.7;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 50%.
Arsenal vs Bayer: Match Prediction
In the first leg, Arsenal had a slight advantage, yet still came close to defeat. In the return match, we are confident the hosts will try to avoid a similar scenario and secure a third consecutive place in the quarter-finals within 90 minutes. On home soil, the team have produced excellent results, winning nine of their previous 11 Champions League matches (one draw, one defeat), and even high-profile opponents have been beaten at the Emirates Stadium. This season, for example, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have both lost there. Bayer, meanwhile, played a very energy-sapping match against those same Munich side in the last round of the Bundesliga.
Bayer are unlikely to force the issue. The visitors understand their opponent’s strength and will most likely opt for a patient approach. Kasper Hjulmand’s men know how to defend: the team have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four away games in the Champions League, and they managed to stop the attack of Manchester City as well. Arsenal, meanwhile, have also looked solid at the back. The home side have not conceded in nine of their previous 11 home matches in the Champions League, and in seven games across that spell they did not allow a single goal.
Prediction: Arsenal to win + Under 3.5 goals
