Bayer Leverkusen vs. West Ham preview: Team news and predicted lineups
| Photo: Bayer 04 Leverkusen |
Still unbeaten in all competitions this season, Xabi Alonso's high-flying Bayer Leverkusen continue their Europa League run when they take on West Ham at the BayArena on Thursday night in the first of two quarter-finals.
Leverkusen were under pressure against Qarabag in the last round, but just managed to edge out the Azerbaijani champions after a late comeback to win 3-2 and 5-4 on aggregate.
Since then, Leverkusen have won four games in a row and are on the verge of clinching their first ever Bundesliga title, 16 points clear of leaders Bayern Munich.
West Ham, meanwhile, cruised to a 5-0 win over Bundesliga side Freiburg to advance 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
The Hammers, who sit seventh in the Premier League, have won just once in four games since that victory, a 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend.
But despite West Ham's patchy form, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso knows what the Premier League outfit are capable of.
“We know what West Ham can do. They have experience in Europe, last season they were Champions of the Conference League. We want to go further and starting tomorrow and then next week in London we have to play to our own game. We are ready,” he told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
Adam Hlozek is the only absentee for Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso, who confirmed that Matej Kovar will be in goal as usual in the Europa League this season. He also declared Victor Boniface fit enough to start, with the Nigerian striker having worked his way back to full fitness following an injury lay-off. Whether he will actually be in the starting eleven is doubtful, though.
West Ham will be without Edson Alvarez through suspension, while Jarrod Bowen is a doubt after being forced off against Wolves. The Hammers will also have to make a late decision on Alphonso Areola, who has missed the last two games with a groin problem.
