As the buildup continues toward Wednesday night’s Champions League meeting in Germany, both Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for a match that carries real weight. Within the next day, Eddie Howe and Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand will speak to the media, offering final clues about their squad situations.
But even before those press conferences, both sides are already dealing with significant fitness concerns that could shape the outcome of the game.
Newcastle are expected to remain without several familiar names. Sven Botman, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth and Will Osula are all likely to miss out once again.
Their absences have been part of a long-running injury story this season, forcing Howe to adjust and rely heavily on depth options. However, there is at least some welcome news.
Sandro Tonali and Lewis Hall, who were both rested and protected at the weekend, are set to return to the starting lineup. Their fresh legs and technical quality could prove crucial in a tough away fixture.
For Bayer Leverkusen, the focus is now on the availability of one of their most important players. Alejandro Grimaldo, their vice captain and a constant source of creativity from the left flank, is suddenly a major doubt.
His influence this season has been remarkable. As a wing-back, he has produced 13 goal contributions already, combining relentless attacking energy with excellent delivery.
His performance in their last Champions League outing a commanding 2-0 win at Manchester City showed exactly why he is considered one of the best in Europe in his position.
But his involvement against Newcastle is uncertain. Grimaldo was missing from Leverkusen’s defeat to Augsburg at the weekend, and after the match Hjulmand admitted he could not guarantee the Spaniard would be fit in time.
The manager explained that Grimaldo is not carrying a serious injury, but has been dealing with a knock that prevented him from taking part in training at the intensity required. Despite their efforts to push him toward readiness, he simply wasn’t able to play, leaving his status for Wednesday unclear.
Even without him, Leverkusen remain a dangerous side. They sit fourth in the Bundesliga and have recorded back-to-back Champions League wins away at Manchester City and Benfica without conceding a single goal. Their structure, discipline and intensity under Hjulmand make them a difficult opponent on any night.
Still, if Grimaldo is forced to sit out, it would be a major boost for Newcastle. Few players in Europe offer as much consistent threat from wide positions, and his absence would remove a key creative outlet. In a game where fine margins matter, losing their most influential playmaker could shift the balance slightly in Newcastle’s favour.
Both teams now face a tense 24 hours as they assess fitness, weigh risks and decide how much to rotate in a crucial group-stage test. The picture will become clearer once the managers speak, but already the storylines are forming around who will be available and who might miss one of the biggest nights of the season so far.
