Overview
- Leverkusen visit Lisbon on Wednesday with two points from three matches after a 2–7 loss to PSG, making a positive result important to stay in contention.
- Benfica, coached by José Mourinho, have opened with three defeats and sit on zero points in the group.
- Returning to his former club, Grimaldo has emerged as Bayer’s key creator and set-piece threat, converting three direct free kicks this season.
- Sporting director Simon Rolfes praised Grimaldo as “an absolute professional from A to Z,” with Andrich’s two-game ban increasing the Spaniard’s leadership burden.
- Coach Kasper Hjulmand recently rested Grimaldo due to an “orange” medical flag for fatigue, and attacker Malik Tillman completed the final training session and will travel to Portugal.