The State of Play
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen could win the Bundesliga for the first time ever as soon as this weekend after what has been a remarkable campaign for the German league leaders. In 41 matches across all competitions so far this season, Leverkusen have scored well over 100 goals and they are unbeaten as they chase a treble with the DFB-Pokal final against second-tier Kaiserslautern next month, too.
David Moyes’ West Ham United are the reigning UEFA Europa Conference League champions and will be hoping to add another European trophy to their cabinet. The Irons have also, despite protestations from supporters on what appears to be a regular basis, performed well domestically as they compete for yet another top seven finish in the Premier League.
Read our other football news stories here:
Xabi Alonso: Premier League links ‘nice’, Liverpool hero says before Bayer Leverkusen v West Ham
Ancelotti satisfied with Madrid draw
Tuchel criticises referee
Team News
Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen will remain without Arthur due to a lack of fitness, whilst former Burnley and Southampton winger Nathan Tella as a hip injury and Adam Hlozek is unavailable due to an ankle injury.
David Moyes and West Ham United remain with one key injury concern as first-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is unavailable with a groin issue. Jarrod Bowen has also suffered a knock and reportedly been ruled out of the eleven.
Expected Line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Wirtz, Hofmann; Boniface
West Ham United: Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Kudus; Antonio
What they Said
Xabi Alonso has said he is not distracted by the potential Bundesliga title, saying “but before that there is the Europe League and that is where all the focus lies.”
Lukasz Fabianski has been speaking to the media before this tie and has said his West Ham side ‘have to believe’ as they go to one of the leading contenders to win the competition.
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at the BayArena at 20:00 on Thursday April 11th and will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. It will also be streamed live via on the TNT Sports in the UK.
Prediction
As mentioned, Bayer Leverkusen have scored well over 100 goals across all competitions this season with an attacking, dominant style of football that is based on the impressive and effectiveness of Alonso’s wing-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo. West Ham, though, do have real threats on the counter but one of those major threats, Jarrod Bowen, is expected to be unavailable so an even more convincing home win is to be expected on Thursday evening.
