Leipzig’s Werner out to purge Besiktas pain

LEIPZIG: Germany striker Timo Werner hopes to purge painful memories of Istanbul with a win over Turkish champions Besiktas today that would fire Leipzig into the Champions League’s last 16.

When the teams last met in September Werner had to leave the field, feeling dizzy and in clear distress, after only 32 minutes of his side’s 2-0 defeat at Besiktas’ Vodafone Park.

His dizziness was the result of blocked neck muscles, which kept him out for the next three weeks.

“My body had just reached a point where it said, ‘enough is enough’, I felt dizzy, there was a lot of pressure on the game, my first Champions League match, and I just didn’t feel good,” he told broadcaster ZDF.

“It was my first serious injury and not a pleasant experience.”

Werner scored twice in Leipzig’s 4-1 win battering of Monaco a fortnight ago to keep their hopes of reaching the knock-out stage alive, while Besiktas are already through as group winners.

Leipzig are third in Group G, level with Porto on seven points, and the Germans must pick up more points against Besiktas than Porto do at home to eliminated Monaco if they are to snatch second spot and reach the last 16 in their first Champions League campaign.

“As long as the chance remains, we will do everything. We still have hope,” said Werner.

“This is our chance to go further in the competition, to be able to play the likes of Barcelona or Manchester United or Real (Madrid).

“We have to beat Besiktas and hope Monaco get a good result at Porto.”

Besiktas are unbeaten and won both their away matches so far – 3-1 at Porto and 2-1 at Monaco.

Leipzig crashed 4-0 at Hoffenheim on Saturday, the club’s heaviest defeat in their two years in the Bundesliga and a rare black mark in a season that has them second in the league, trailing Bayern Munich by six points but ahead of Germany’s other heavyweights.