Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium tonight for a critical European encounter against Bayer Leverkusen. With the aggregate score locked at 1-1, Mikel Arteta’s side aims to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the third successive season. The first leg at the BayArena saw Robert Andrich put the German champions ahead shortly after half-time, before Kai Havertz converted a dramatic 89th-minute penalty against his former club to ensure the Gunners left Germany on level terms. UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Round of 16: (March 17) Today's Football Matches and IST Kick-Off Times.

Arsenal enter the match with high morale following a 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton, which extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points. Leverkusen, currently sixth in the Bundesliga, head to London after a resilient 1-1 draw against ten-man Bayern Munich over the weekend.

Where to Watch Arsenal vs Leverkusen Live Streaming and Telecast in India

For football fans in India, the match will be broadcast live in the early hours of Wednesday, 18 March. The Sony Sports Network holds the exclusive rights for the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

Feature Details
Match Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (Round of 16, 2nd Leg)
Date Wednesday, 18 March 2026 (IST)
Kick-off Time 01:30 AM IST
TV Channel (English) Sony Sports Ten 2 / Sony Sports Ten 2 HD
TV Channel (Hindi) Sony Sports Ten 3 / Sony Sports Ten 3 HD
Live Streaming SonyLIV app and website

Team News and Key Absentees

Both managers face selection challenges ahead of this high-stakes fixture.

  • Arsenal: Mikel Arteta has confirmed that captain Martin Odegaard remains unavailable due to a persistent knee injury. The Gunners also lost Jurrien Timber during the weekend win over Everton; the defender limped off with a muscular issue and was absent from Monday's training. However, there is a boost as Leandro Trossard has returned to full training and is available for selection. 16-year-old Max Dowman, who made a goal-scoring cameo against Everton, is also expected to be in the matchday squad. PL 2025-26: Arsenal Winger Max Dowman Becomes Youngest Premier League Goal Scorer.

  • Bayer Leverkusen: Kasper Hjulmand’s side will be without Lucas Vázquez, Mark Flekken, and Loic Bade. Despite these injuries, the German side remains dangerous on the counter-attack, led by the creative Aleix García and the clinical Martin Terrier.

Head-to-Head and Statistical Context

Historically, Arsenal have the upper hand in this fixture, though matches between the two sides have often been closely contested.

  • Total Meetings: 4

  • Arsenal Wins: 1

  • Bayer Leverkusen Wins: 0

  • Draws: 3

  • The Havertz Factor: Kai Havertz’s late equaliser in the first leg was his 15th goal of the season across all competitions. He remains the focal point for Arsenal against his former youth club.

The Road Ahead

Under current UEFA regulations, the away goals rule is not in effect. This means a win for either side tonight will secure progression. If the match ends in a draw at the end of 90 minutes, it will proceed to 30 minutes of extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout. The winner of this tie is scheduled to face either Bodø/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarter-final stage.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2026 10:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).