Free-scoring Lech face Leverkusen without their midfield anchor
Lech Poznań welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the Enea Stadion on Thursday, 15 October 2026, in the second round of the Europa League league phase. The Polish champions need a response after losing 4-0 at Crystal Palace on matchday one, while Leverkusen started with a 2-0 home win over Celje. Kick-off is at 18:45. The referee had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
“It’s going to be a very difficult game. They’re a solid side who like to keep the ball as much as possible.” – Leverkusen manager Carles Martínez Novell
Predicted lineups: Lech vs Leverkusen
Lech’s biggest loss is Radosław Murawski, who is suspended after his second yellow card at Selhurst Park and usually holds the midfield together. João Moutinho (broken foot), Alex Douglas (rib) and Ali Gholizadeh (cruciate ligament) are also out, but Wålemark and Kozubal are available. Leverkusen have lost striker Christian Kofane to a thigh injury picked up on international duty, and right-back Guéla Doué (calf), Ben Seghir and Culbreath are missing too. Jarell Quansah is an option at right-back, and Mark Flekken is the club’s goalkeeper for European games.
Lech Poznań Team News & Preview
Lech are second in the Ekstraklasa with 22 points from nine games, three behind leaders Górnik Zabrze, and they are the league’s joint-highest scorers with 21 goals. They warmed up for this with a 4-1 win at Śląsk Wrocław on Saturday, when Patrik Wålemark scored twice and Lech had 16 shots to Śląsk’s seven. Before that they beat Radomiak 5-1 at home.
The night at Palace was a warning, though. Lech were outplayed in London and lost Murawski to a red card, and Frederiksen now has to rebuild the base of his midfield. Lech have never beaten a German club in European competition, with two draws and three defeats.
What works for or against Lech
- 21 goals in nine league games, 2.33 per match.
- Nine goals in their last two league games against Radomiak and Śląsk.
- Murawski suspended and Moutinho injured in central midfield.
- Lost 4-0 at Crystal Palace on matchday one.
Bayer Leverkusen Team News & Preview
Leverkusen are fourth in the Bundesliga with ten points from five games and have scored at least twice in each of their last five competitive matches. Saturday’s 4-3 win at Mainz summed up their season: Andrich and Schick put them 2-0 up inside nine minutes, Mainz levelled before half-time, and Leverkusen still needed late goals from Quansah and Diaby to win a game in which they conceded three.
Patrik Schick has five Bundesliga goals and has been the focal point since Kofane’s injury. At the back, Leverkusen have conceded eight goals in five league games, including two at Augsburg and three at Mainz.
What works for or against Leverkusen
- At least two goals in each of their last five competitive games.
- Schick has five league goals this season.
- Eight goals conceded in five Bundesliga games.
- Kofane and Doué both injured.
Lech vs Leverkusen Odds
Match Result
Double Chance
Handicap
Over/Under
Both Teams to Score
Half-Time/Full-Time
Lech Poznan vs. Leverkusen Stats Comparison
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Lech Poznan vs. Leverkusen Form Guide
Lech Poznan Form, Stats & Data
Lech score 2.33 goals per league game, with the goals spread across Sayyadmanesh, Rodríguez and Wålemark. In Poland they control games, but against stronger European opposition they have been far more open, as the 4-0 at Palace showed.
Leverkusen Form, Stats & Data
Leverkusen average 2.8 Bundesliga goals per game but concede 1.6. They are dangerous in transition and from wide areas through Diaby and Terrier, and the 4-3 at Mainz showed they can let opponents back into games.
Lech vs Leverkusen: Prediction & Betting Tip
This looks like a game with goals at both ends. Lech score freely at home and have nine goals in their last two league games, while Leverkusen have scored at least twice in five straight matches but let in five goals in their last two away league games. With Murawski missing from the base of Lech’s midfield, I expect Leverkusen to find space, and with Leverkusen’s back line shuffled by Doué’s injury, I expect Lech to get chances of their own.
The best argument the other way is the Palace game, where Lech failed to score and were second best throughout. If Leverkusen control the ball the way Palace did, Lech could draw a blank again. But Lech’s attack has looked much sharper since then, and Leverkusen have not been as solid as Palace were that night.
So it is Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.46 with Winz for me, and I expect a 1-3 scoreline.