Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Ömer Toprak to start against Zenit [divider]

Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Ömer Toprak are expected to start for Bayer Leverkusen against Zenit in Champions League Group C.

Bayer won the last game between the two sides 2-0 in Germany, Çalhanoğlu provided assists for both of the goals.

The 20-year-old playmaker already has one goal and two assists in three Champions League appearances this season.

Despite being first in the group on six points Bayer manager Roger Schmidt believes Zenit could give his side a tough game.

“Games in the Bundesliga and the Champions League are different – it makes no sense to compare them,” Schmidt said.

“We know Zenit are a great team. We also know Zenit are under pressure and that they need to win this game after losing in Germany.

“That will have an impact on this match. We trained at home because it was more comfortable.

“Our performance in the first match against Zenit was as we had planned. My players showed strong individual skills and good team play.”

Expected lineups:

Zenit: Lodygin; Anyukov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito; Witsel, Javi García, Shatov; Danny, Kerzhakov, Hulk.
Out: Fayzulin (knee)

Leverkusen: Leno; Jedvaj, Toprak, Spahić, Boenisch; Bender, Çalhanoğlu; Bellarabi, Brandt, Son, Kiessling

Out: Wendell (suspended), Castro (thigh), Reinartz (eye), Rolfes (match fitness), Papadopoulos (shoulder)