Ahead of their Europa League opener against NK Celje on Wednesday, Bayer Leverkusen are dealing with a potential absence. The 20-year-old forward Ibrahim Maza missed training with a cold, casting doubt on his availability for the match at the BayArena.

The Slovenian opponents arrive with a new coach in charge. Zoran Zeljkovic took over the team from Vitor Campelos only on Tuesday and flew directly to Germany. Celje, the current champions, missed out on Champions League qualification.

Bayer Leverkusen manager Carles Martínez acknowledged the changed circumstances. He said something had changed and that they were not magicians, so they did not know how the opponent would play. Therefore, they should have the utmost respect for Celje, but the most important thing was to focus on their own task. The Spaniard may have to turn to Robert Andrich in the starting lineup.

Midfielder Aleix Garcia warned against taking the challenge lightly. He stated that the team had been shown some clips of Celje before the final training session. The team has its own style, wanting to have the ball and dominate possession. Of course, they are the favorites on paper, but they must be focused and not expect an easy game.

Die Werkself enter the European campaign with a mixed Bundesliga record. After three matchdays, Carles Martínez's side sits in a position in the table. Their recent form, however, shows an upward trend. The most recent outing was a draw at FC Augsburg, where Patrik Schick scored the equaliser late in the game. Schick is currently the team's top scorer.

Alongside Maza, Montrell Culbreath, Nathan Tella, and Kennet Eichhorn remain sidelined. For a complete overview of the squad's injury status, visit our injuries page. Following the European fixture, a Bundesliga home match against RB Leipzig awaits on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken will play his first European match of the season in front of the home crowd. For Bayer Leverkusen, it marks their first appearance in the Europa League group stage under manager Carles Martínez.

Further reading: Bild Sport