Leverkusen eye chance against Aris
Friday, October 22, 2010
Article summary
Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Aris Thessaloniki FC drew 0-0 in Greece on Matchday 3 to remain in the top two in Group B, but the German side will look to move four points clear in the return.
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Group B pacesetters Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Aris Thessaloniki FC drew 0-0 in Greece on Matchday 3, but the German side will look to make their home advantage count as they reconvene in the UEFA Europa League.
Previous meetings
• The sides met for the first time on Matchday 3.
• Leverkusen's record in eight games against Greek opposition reads W3 D2 L3 (W2 D1 L1 at home).
• Aris's only game against German opposition prior to Matchday 3 ended in a 6-0 defeat at FC Bayern München in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup group stage. Luca Toni scored four times in what remains the club's heaviest European defeat.
Match background
• Leverkusen have won both of their European home games this season, scoring seven goals without conceding.
• The German side have won seven of their last eight BayArena fixtures in UEFA club competition either side of a 4-1 loss to FC Zenit St. Petersburg in the first leg of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
• Aris have won just once in their last 11 continental games on their travels, beating Jagiellonia Białystok 2-1 in this season's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round to end a winless run of almost 11 years.
Team facts
• Aris's Javito turns 27 on the day of the match.
• Aris extended their unbeaten home record in UEFA club competition games to 23 fixtures with their draw against Leverkusen. They have not lost at home in over 40 years. Since making their European debut with a 1-1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie against Chelsea FC on 16 September 1970 their record is W12 D11 L0.
• A fine striker in his day, Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes won the 1972 UEFA European Championship and 1974 FIFA World Cup with West Germany, and also claimed four domestic titles, a German Cup and the 1974/75 UEFA Cup with VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. As a coach, he won two league titles with FC Bayern München and led Madrid to 1997/98 UEFA Champions League glory. He took charge at Leverkusen in June 2009.
• Aris coach Héctor Cúper made his name in Spain. The former Argentina defender coached RCD Mallorca, Valencia CF – whom he led to the 2000 and 2001 UEFA Champions League finals – and Real Betis Balompié. He has also been in charge at FC Internazionale Milano and Parma FC, taking over at Aris in November 2009.
