Following a mixed bag of results in their opening Champions League group-stage matches, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan will clash at the BayArena this Tuesday, both eager to secure a crucial three points.
This marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides in European competition. The German champions strolled to a comfortable win on matchday one, while Milan suffered a tough defeat at San Siro, adding extra pressure to their upcoming encounter.
After last season's historic achievements, Bayer Leverkusen faced high expectations upon their return to the Champions League, and their dominant 4-0 thrashing of Feyenoord on the road indicates they’re poised to make a significant mark in this European campaign as well.
Milan, meanwhile, crossed paths against European heavyweights Liverpool in this year's Champions League opener.
Unable to cope with their Premier League rivals, the hosts at San Siro allowed a staggering 11 shots on target – equaling their record for the most in a Champions League match – and eventually fell to a 3-1 defeat.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
How to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan online - TV channels & live streams
The match will be shown live on Paramount+ and ViX in the US. Live updates can be found here on GOAL.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan kick-off time
| Date: | Tuesday, October 1, 2024 |
| Kick-off time: | 3:00 pm ET/ 12:00 pm PT |
| Venue: | BayArena |
The UEFA Champions League match between Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan will be played at BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany.
It will kick off at 3:00 pm ET/ 12:00 pm PT on Tuesday, October 1, in the US.
Team news & squads
Bayer Leverkusen team news
Bayer Leverkusen shuffled their lineup with five alterations for their high-profile clash against Bayern, but Xabi Alonso is expected to keep much of that starting XI intact for the encounter with Milan.
Midfield general Granit Xhaka is a lock to start, though Robert Andrich, who found the back of the net on Saturday, will need to battle it out with Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios for the second midfield spot.
One player guaranteed a place is Florian Wirtz, who has contributed directly to 24 goals in his last 26 European outings. Though he failed to score against Bayern, Wirtz had netted four times across his previous three matches.
Bayer Leverkusen possible XI: Hradecky (GK); Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Kovar, Hradecky, Lomb |
| Defenders: | Hincapie, Tah, Tapsoba, Stanisic, Grimaldo, Arthur, Mukiele, Frimpong, Fofana, Belocian |
| Midfielders: | Hofmann, Andrich, Terrier, Tella, Adli, Garcia, Palacios, Xhaka, Aourir |
| Forwards: | Wirtz, Boniface, Schick |
AC Milan team news
As for Milan, their primary threat comes from a player familiar with German football, who's been in sizzling form in Serie A. Christian Pulisic has struck in his last four appearances, all during the first half, and now aims to become the first American to score in three consecutive Champions League matches.
Tammy Abraham has recently joined Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Alvaro Morata in the attack, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek might slot back in to provide extra midfield solidity against elite opposition.
Meanwhile, Milan will be without Marco Sportiello (hand), Ismael Bennacer (ankle), and Alessandro Florenzi (ACL), while captain Davide Calabria is dealing with a muscle strain.
AC Milan possible XI: Maignan (GK); Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Maignan, Torriani |
| Defenders: | Calabria, Hernandez, Jimenez, Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Gabbia, Terracciano |
| Midfielders: | Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Reijnders, Zeroli, Fofana, Musah |
| Forwards: | Morata, Jovic, Leao, Okafor, Chukwueze, Abraham |
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the first encounter between these two sides in all competitions.