AS Monaco vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Here is our preview, including predicted lineups, for Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg clash between AS Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.
| Photo: Bayer 04 Leverkusen |
However, 'Die Werkself' have been in poor form lately, losing four of their last five games after Sunday's 2-3 defeat against Mainz, which saw head coach Xabi Alonso rest a number of key players.
AS Monaco, on the other hand, must be brimming with confidence after winning their last five matches.
On the positive side for Leverkusen, they have been boosted by the return to training of Moussa Diaby, who sustained an injury in the reverse fixture. The Frenchman completed parts of team training today and will make the squad, but is unlikely to be fit enough to start.
Only Daley Sinkgraven, who is injured and not part of Bayer Leverkusen's Europa League squad anyway, missed Leverkusen's final training session ahead of the game. Piero Hincapié could be moved out on the left to replace him, with Mitchel Bakker also an alternative.
Exequiel Palacios and Kerem Demirbay are competing to start alongside Robert Andrich in the middle of the park. Further forward, Patrik Schick could earn his first start in 2023 if he's considered fit enough after his long injury lay-off.
Monaco will definitely be without Vanderson, while Guillermo Maripan is a huge doubt, but Kevin Volland, Gelson Martins and Ruben Aguilar are expected back in the squad.
Check out our predicted lineups here.