West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Matthew O’Regan assesses the Hammers’ chances in his West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. The Bundesliga champions ran out 2-0 winners in a dominant home display last week, meaning West Ham have a huge task on their hands to remain in the Europa League.

• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Tip 1: Bayer Leverkusen to Win
• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen  Tip 2: Florian Wirtz to Score
• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Tip 3: Matej Kovar to be Booked

West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 1: Bayer Never-lusen

Europa League, Thursday 18th April 2024, 20:00

From minute one last week, Bayer Leverkusen were on top against West Ham. Despite this, it took Xabi Alonso’s side until the 83rd minute to break down the resilient Hammers. 

Leverkusen ended the game with 73% and 33 shots – compared to West Ham’s 1. While the game plan was to ultimately frustrate the Germans, David Moyes will be disappointed with his sides lack of attacking threat. 

Both sides had contrasting fortunes in their returns to league action. Leverkusen smashed Werder Bremen 5-0 to finally secure the illustrious league title. 

West Ham lost 2-0 at home to Fulham in a tepid performance, with many fans growing more frustrated with the poor performances. 

In the group stages, Alonso’s side won all six games, scoring 19 and conceding just three. In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen have won 25 and drawn four of their 29 games.

While a draw will be more than enough to secure a passage into the second round, Xabi Alonso’s side are relentless and will be keen to ensure standards don’t drop in London. 

• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 1: Bayer Leverkusen To Win
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

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West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 2: Hurt On Wirtz Again

Germany’s new superstar, Florian Wirtz, has caught the eye worldwide with his stellar performances as he spearheaded Leverkusen towards the title. 

Last week, I tipped him to score and the 20-year-old failed to deliver, recording 2 shots and one on target. 

With Patrick Schick or Victor Boniface as the main focal point, Wirtz roams around in the number ten role, finding pockets of space and making late runs into the box. 

In all competitions, the 20-year-old is boasting 17 goals and 18 assists in 41 matches, including a hat-trick in his last game. 

While he disappointed us last week, Wirtz is an even bigger price this week. He will be full of confidence after his weekend hat trick. Bayer Leverkusen will be looking for counter-attacks as West Ham will look to attack from the off. Wirtz excels in transition and we should see him shine in East London. 

• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 2: Florian Wirtz to Score
• Best Odds: 4.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 4/10

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West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 3: Time Wasting Trend

As mentioned, Bayer Leverkusen have set such high standards and will be desperate to maintain their unbeaten record at the Hammers expense. Even if they lose 1-0 and secure their passage into the semi-finals, Alonso will still be annoyed at losing their unbeaten record. 

Matej Kovar is likely to start in goal on Thursday,with Alonso citing the Czech Republic international as his cup goalkeeper. 

While the former Manchester United stopper has yet to been booked in his minimal appearances this season. However, when looking at historical Quarter-Final statistics, it presents an interesting angle. 

In last years Europa League quarter-finals, 2/4 of the winning Quarter-finalists had their goalie booked. This was the case again in the Champions League, with leading teams desperate to retain their lead.

With Leverkusen 2-0 up heading into this game, don’t be surprised for some delaying tactics from the Germans.

• West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen  Prediction 3: Matej Kovar to be Booked
• Best Odds: 7.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 2/10

West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction odds via bet365 as at 00:00, April 15th Odds may now differ.

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West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Team News and Possible Lineups: Host of key absentees for West Ham.

West Ham are missing a large majority of their squad due to a mixture of suspension and injuries. Yellows in the first leg see Emerson and Lucas Paqueta suspended. Alphonse Areola, Jarrod Bowen and Kalvin Phillips miss out through injury. 

For Leverkusen, only forward Adam Hlozek is missing, with Czech international subbed in the first half against Union Berlin. Expect a similar line-up from the first leg. Victor Boniface might be in contention for a start after two goals in two. 

West Ham possible starting lineup:
Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Johnson; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ings, Ward-Prowse; Antonio

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba, Grimaldo; Xhala, Palacios; Frimpong, Wirtz, Adli; Boniface

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Match OPTA Stats: Leverkusen Domination

• This is the fifth time West Ham have trailed by 2+ goals going into the second leg of a two-legged knockout  tie in all European competitions; they managed to progress from the first two (v ADO Den Haag in the 1975- 76 Cup Winners’ Cup & Real Madrid Castilla in the 1980-81 Cup Winners’ Cup) but were eliminated from the  most recent two (v Dinamo Tbilisi in the 1980-81 Cup Winners’ Cup and v FCSB in the 1999-00 UEFA Cup). 
• Bayer Leverkusen have progressed from all 13 previous occasions they have won the first leg of a two legged European knockout tie by 2+ goals (incl. qualifiers). 
• West Ham have won three of their last four home games against German opposition (L1), already beating  SC Freiburg twice in the UEFA Europa League this season (2-0 group stage, 5-0 round of 16). 
• Bayer Leverkusen have only won one of their 10 away games against English sides in all competitions (D2  L7), though this win did come in their last visit to the capital against Tottenham in November 2016 (1-0). 
• West Ham have won each of their last 11 home games in European competitions (incl. qualifiers), seven of  which were by a margin of 2+ goals, which they require to avoid elimination in this tie against Bayer  Leverkusen. 
• Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in 10 UEFA Europa League matches (W8 D2); in major European  competitions, only from September 1986 to April 1988 have they ever gone longer without defeat (14, all in  the UEFA Cup). 

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West Ham Fixtures: Do-Or-Die Territory

• Vs Bayer Leverkusen (H)
• Vs Crystal Palace (A)
• Vs Liverpool (H)
• Vs Chelsea (A)
• Vs Luton (H)

Bayer Leverkusen Fixtures: Invincible Treble Chasers

• Vs West Ham (A)
• Vs Dortmund (A)
• Vs Stuttgart (H)
• Vs Frankfurt (A)
• Vs Bochum (A)

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