Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk will face off in a pivotal Champions League match on Wednesday.
Both teams enter the game in a tight race for first place. Shakhtar Donetsk currently sits in a tie with Manchester United for first place with four points while Bayer Leverkusen is only one point away. United is facing last place Real Sociedad and could potentially runaway with first place if neither of these sides manages a win.
Shakhtar opened its tournament against Real Sociedad and nearly came away with only one point to show for its effort. Fortunately, the club got two late goals from Alex Teixeira and won 2-0. The second game against Manchester United proved more difficult as the team fell behind 1-0 just 18 minutes in. Luckily Taison tied things up late and earned Shakhtar a 1-1 draw.
Bayer Leverkusen's opener at the Old Trafford was a poor 4-2 defeat; the team was tied 1-1 with United before allowing three straight goals. The second game proved to be almost as tough as the team blew a 1-0 lead and would have wound up with a 1-1 draw if not for an injury time goal from Jens Hegeler.
Bayer Leverkusen's poor Champions League performances have not been indicative of the team's domestic form. Leverkusen sits just one point behind Bayern Munich for first place in the German Bundesliga.
Prediction: Leverkusen is home and should have the advantage; 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen.
Start Time: 2:45 p.m. EST