Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal Prediction: Card-happy Gueye to go into the book

Bayer Leverkusen will hope to consolidate their position within the Uefa Champions League play-offs when they host Villarreal at the BayArena on Wednesday (20:00 GMT, discovery+).

They are facing a side who are already eliminated from the competition, having picked up just one point from their opening seven matches. My Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal predictions can be found below, as well as the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Bayer Leverkusen are missing Mark Flekken (knee) and Edmond Tapsoba (muscle) due to injury. Nathan Tella (foot) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (unspecified) are also in the treatment room for the hosts.

Patrik Schick, who has netted two goals in the Champions League this season, will be pushing for a recall to the XI after being named on the bench in last week's defeat at Olympiakos.

Football Odds

Pau Cabanes and Willy Kambwala remain sidelined for Villarreal with severe knee injuries. Former Tottenham Hotspur man Juan Foyth has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles.

Santiago Mourino is also unable to feature as he serves a one-game suspension for picking up three yellow cards. Pape Alasanne Gueye returns from a ban of his own and is expected to come back into the side on Wednesday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal Odds

Leverkusen are 8/15 to land their first win at home in the Champions League this season. Two of their three outings at the BayArena have ended in a draw, with the stalemate priced at 10/3.

They may have nothing to play for but Villarreal are 9/2 to come away with the victory.

With two goals in the league phase, Schick is deemed the favourite to score anytime at 1/1.

To Win To Nil - Bayer Leverkusen @ 7/4

With Leverkusen needing a result and Villarreal simply turning up as a formality, the onus will be on the German hosts to go and do their part to go out and win to secure their position within the UCL play-offs.

Die Werkself have been having more joy on their travels than when playing at BayArena. They have managed just two points on home soil so far, but with this being the final match, the roaring home crowd should see Leverkusen over the line.

It also helps knowing that Villarreal have lost all but one of their league phase fixtures so far, failing to score in four of them. This includes all three of their away trips to date, and I do think this can play into Leverkusen's hands - especially as they are the only team with something to play for.

I think there is value in backing the home side to win to nil.

Player To Receive A Card - Pape Alasanne Gueye @ 2/1

Fresh from his suspension for three yellow cards in Europe, Gueye is set to return to the Villarreal side on Wednesday, and I think he is good value to get booked again.

The midfielder is joint-17th for fouls committed by players from all 36 teams in the league phase, having been penalised on 11 occasions. Given how disappointing the Yellow Submarine's Champions League campaign has unfolded, there may be some frustration shown by Gueye and his teammates here as they try to disrupt Leverkusen's knockout stage plans.

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