Look as though we should top the top if this report is to be believed.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen will miss Brazilian defender Juan and Nigeria midfielder Pascal Ojigwe when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday for top spot in Champions League Group F.
Coach Klaus Toppmoeller said on Monday that Juan had not fully recovered from a thigh muscle injury while Ojigwe was sidelined with a sore left knee.
Last season's Champions League runners-up will also miss Turkish midfielder Yildiray Basturk, who is suspended.
Toppmoeller, whose men have been busy lately with a 3-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart last week followed by a 1-0 Bundesliga win at Schalke 04 on Saturday, said he would also rest a few players.
"Some players will get a break and will not make the trip to Manchester," he said.
Defenders Lucio and Diego Placente, midfielder Bernd Schneider and striker Oliver Neuville will stay at home and will have a light training session in Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Toppmoeller, whose team lie second in the group, three points behind United, dismissed a suggestion that little was at stake with both teams already through to the second stage.
"With a victory we could win the group, which would enable us to start the next phase with a home game," he said.
"Besides there is a match bonus to play for and playing at Old Trafford is an experience for every player."
Leverkusen knocked out Manchester United in the semi-finals last season and went on to lose 2-1 to Real Madrid in the final.
The German club, who appear to be recovering from a bad start to the season and are a poor 12th in the Bundesliga standings, lost 2-1 to United in Leverkusen in September.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen will miss Brazilian defender Juan and Nigeria midfielder Pascal Ojigwe when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday for top spot in Champions League Group F.
Coach Klaus Toppmoeller said on Monday that Juan had not fully recovered from a thigh muscle injury while Ojigwe was sidelined with a sore left knee.
Last season's Champions League runners-up will also miss Turkish midfielder Yildiray Basturk, who is suspended.
Toppmoeller, whose men have been busy lately with a 3-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart last week followed by a 1-0 Bundesliga win at Schalke 04 on Saturday, said he would also rest a few players.
"Some players will get a break and will not make the trip to Manchester," he said.
Defenders Lucio and Diego Placente, midfielder Bernd Schneider and striker Oliver Neuville will stay at home and will have a light training session in Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Toppmoeller, whose team lie second in the group, three points behind United, dismissed a suggestion that little was at stake with both teams already through to the second stage.
"With a victory we could win the group, which would enable us to start the next phase with a home game," he said.
"Besides there is a match bonus to play for and playing at Old Trafford is an experience for every player."
Leverkusen knocked out Manchester United in the semi-finals last season and went on to lose 2-1 to Real Madrid in the final.
The German club, who appear to be recovering from a bad start to the season and are a poor 12th in the Bundesliga standings, lost 2-1 to United in Leverkusen in September.
