thehardtackle 
18-04-2024 05:56
18-04-2024 05:56
West Ham United vs Bayer Leverkusen: Preview and Prediction
Key Stats
Thursday’s clash will be the fifth time West Ham United will have trailed by two or more goals going into the second leg of a knockout tie in all European competitions, the first since the 1999/00 season. They progressed in the first two and faced defeat in the most recent two.
Bayer Leverkusen have progressed from all 13 previous occasions they have won the first leg of a two-legged European knockout tie by two or more goals.
West Ham United have won three of their last four home games against German sides (L1), already beating SC Freiburg twice in the Europa League this season (2-0 in the group stage, 5-0 in the Round of 16).
Bayer Leverkusen have only won one of their ten away games against English opposition in all competitions. However, that win came in their most recent visit to London, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in November 2016.
Florian Wirtz (25) and James Ward-Prowse (22) are two of the top three players for most chances created in the Europa League this season.
Player to Watch
James Ward-Prowse
Embed from Getty Images
With Jarrod Bowen unlikely to be fit enough to start and Lucas Paqueta serving a suspension, Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse are the only West Ham United players worthy of featuring in this section. As for Bayer Leverkusen, the returning Victor Boniface was an option. But we have picked Ward-Prowse as our player to watch.
The English international has been a game-changer for West Ham this season with his tenacity and combativeness in the middle of the park. His exploits alongside Edson Alvarez have helped West Ham fill Declan Rice’s void in the midfield unit.
However, Ward-Prowse is a well-rounded midfielder whose ghosting runs make him a threat. In addition, the former Southampton captain is the biggest creative outlet for West Ham and features in the top three for chances created in the UEFA Europa League this season. So, the hosts need him at the races to have a chance to topple the Bayer Leverkusen juggernaut.
Prediction
West Ham United 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
The home side might feel they have a chance to topple Bayer Leverkusen if the visitors have any after-effects of celebrating winning the Bundesliga title. However, Xabi Alonso would know that the job is only half done for Die Werkself, considering his men are still in with a chance of winning a historic treble.
So, while the visitors might show some vulnerability at the back, that will not be enough for West Ham to get the better of them. In addition, with West Ham United missing two of their best players, they will unlikely conjure many efforts. In the end, the gulf in quality will prove telling, as The Hard Tackle predicts Bayer Leverkusen to clinch a 2-1 win. Tags: Bayer LeverkusenEuropa LeagueJames Ward-ProwseWest Ham
Thursday’s clash will be the fifth time West Ham United will have trailed by two or more goals going into the second leg of a knockout tie in all European competitions, the first since the 1999/00 season. They progressed in the first two and faced defeat in the most recent two.
Bayer Leverkusen have progressed from all 13 previous occasions they have won the first leg of a two-legged European knockout tie by two or more goals.
West Ham United have won three of their last four home games against German sides (L1), already beating SC Freiburg twice in the Europa League this season (2-0 in the group stage, 5-0 in the Round of 16).
Bayer Leverkusen have only won one of their ten away games against English opposition in all competitions. However, that win came in their most recent visit to London, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in November 2016.
Florian Wirtz (25) and James Ward-Prowse (22) are two of the top three players for most chances created in the Europa League this season.
Player to Watch
James Ward-Prowse
Embed from Getty Images
With Jarrod Bowen unlikely to be fit enough to start and Lucas Paqueta serving a suspension, Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse are the only West Ham United players worthy of featuring in this section. As for Bayer Leverkusen, the returning Victor Boniface was an option. But we have picked Ward-Prowse as our player to watch.
The English international has been a game-changer for West Ham this season with his tenacity and combativeness in the middle of the park. His exploits alongside Edson Alvarez have helped West Ham fill Declan Rice’s void in the midfield unit.
However, Ward-Prowse is a well-rounded midfielder whose ghosting runs make him a threat. In addition, the former Southampton captain is the biggest creative outlet for West Ham and features in the top three for chances created in the UEFA Europa League this season. So, the hosts need him at the races to have a chance to topple the Bayer Leverkusen juggernaut.
Prediction
West Ham United 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
The home side might feel they have a chance to topple Bayer Leverkusen if the visitors have any after-effects of celebrating winning the Bundesliga title. However, Xabi Alonso would know that the job is only half done for Die Werkself, considering his men are still in with a chance of winning a historic treble.
So, while the visitors might show some vulnerability at the back, that will not be enough for West Ham to get the better of them. In addition, with West Ham United missing two of their best players, they will unlikely conjure many efforts. In the end, the gulf in quality will prove telling, as The Hard Tackle predicts Bayer Leverkusen to clinch a 2-1 win. Tags: Bayer LeverkusenEuropa LeagueJames Ward-ProwseWest Ham