Following their bitter defeat against one of the Bundesliga's biggest underdogs, they will be looking to take their frustration out on one of the Champions League's own rank outsiders. Bayer Leverkusen will be seething with rage as they go into their opening Champions League game against BATE Borisov this evening. "Now we need to show a reaction, we can and will do better," said striker Stefan Kießling, looking back on the 1-0 defeat against promoted side Darmstadt 98 last Saturday – Leverkusen's first home defeat for seven months.
There can be no excuses against the Belarusian cup winners, who feature former Stuttgart player Alexander Hleb. If Bayer are to have any chance in their group, which includes AS Roma and defending champions FC Barcelona, a win against the team founded by a tractor factory is an absolute must.
Schmidt: "The team will learn a lot"
"It's always vital to get off to a winning start in the group stage," new captain Lars Bender said in an interview with the Rheinische Post.
With six games in the next 20 days, manager Roger Schmidt hopes that the loss against Darmstadt will serve as a wake-up call ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga clash against top-of-the-table Borussia Dortmund. "The team will learn a lot from it," he said. "And they have a lot to learn."
Völler on Borisov: "They're a dangerous side"
Sporting director Rudi Völler has however issued a warning to his players not to underestimate the Belarusian side: "Borisov have been regulars in the Champions League for the last few years and they're a dangerous side – they've beaten Bayern in the past."
Seven players remain from the side that beat eventual champions Bayern München 3-1 in the 2012 group stage. It was one of only three wins that Borisov have recorded in their 24 Champions League matches, suffering 16 losses. Having competed in the Champions League four times before, they were the highest-ranked team in Pot 4 going into the group-stage draw; however bookmakers have placed them as the least likely team to win their group.
Following their bitter defeat against one of the Bundesliga's biggest underdogs, they will be looking to take their frustration out on one of the Champions League's own rank outsiders. Bayer Leverkusen will be seething with rage as they go into their opening Champions League game against BATE Borisov this evening. "Now we need to show a reaction, we can and will do better," said striker Stefan Kießling, looking back on the 1-0 defeat against promoted side Darmstadt 98 last Saturday – Leverkusen's first home defeat for seven months.
There can be no excuses against the Belarusian cup winners, who feature former Stuttgart player Alexander Hleb. If Bayer are to have any chance in their group, which includes AS Roma and defending champions FC Barcelona, a win against the team founded by a tractor factory is an absolute must.
Schmidt: "The team will learn a lot"
"It's always vital to get off to a winning start in the group stage," new captain Lars Bender said in an interview with the Rheinische Post.
With six games in the next 20 days, manager Roger Schmidt hopes that the loss against Darmstadt will serve as a wake-up call ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga clash against top-of-the-table Borussia Dortmund. "The team will learn a lot from it," he said. "And they have a lot to learn."
Völler on Borisov: "They're a dangerous side"
Sporting director Rudi Völler has however issued a warning to his players not to underestimate the Belarusian side: "Borisov have been regulars in the Champions League for the last few years and they're a dangerous side – they've beaten Bayern in the past."
Seven players remain from the side that beat eventual champions Bayern München 3-1 in the 2012 group stage. It was one of only three wins that Borisov have recorded in their 24 Champions League matches, suffering 16 losses. Having competed in the Champions League four times before, they were the highest-ranked team in Pot 4 going into the group-stage draw; however bookmakers have placed them as the least likely team to win their group.
