By rights, these upcoming fixtures should mark the end of Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League journey. Despite their affiliation with a major German pharmaceutical firm, in the elite European sphere, they are up against clubs significantly wealthier than them.

Historically, teams like Valencia, Monaco, Porto, and even Leverkusen have had their moments in Europe, but the current landscape has shifted. Only once in the last two decades did a Champions League finalist emerge from outside the financial top 15.

Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, noted at a recent summit, “Our revenue is about a third of Bayern Munich’s,” indicating the steep financial challenges they face against such powerhouses.

Nathan Tella, a forward for Leverkusen, shared, “We’re one of the best teams in the world. A season like last year isn’t just a fluke; it builds confidence for future challenges.”

Thus far this season, Leverkusen’s resilience shows. Although on paper they might be considered underdogs, they don’t shy away from facing the giants like Bayern Munich, having gone unbeaten against them in their last six encounters. With their manager, Xabi Alonso, steering the ship, the team remains focused on their growth and success in all competitions.

Despite financial constraints, Leverkusen has managed to create a formidable squad with key players like Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface contributing to their success.

As Tella emphasized, “We focus on ourselves and trust the coach’s strategy. Whether we are facing top-tier teams, we enter each match believing we can win.”