Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham Prediction & Betting Tips (11 April)

Bayer Leverkusen came very close to conceding its first defeat of the season in the previous round. Indeed, this team first snatched a draw in Azerbaijan against Qarabag in added time 2-2 before putting the cover back on the return, a week later, against this same team. Trailing going into stoppage time, the Germans did even better by equalizing then scoring the qualifying goal a few seconds later to validate their ticket to these quarter-finals. Easy leader of his group during the first round where he was flawless against Qarabag, Molde and Häcken, the 11 from Usine is also well ahead in the Bundesliga where the title of champion already seems promised to him after 11 seasons of Bayern's reign. Launched into a crazy series of 7 victories in a row before the international break, Xabi Alonso's players extended it against Hoffenheim winning 2-1 and Union Berlin last weekend 0-1. Let us note as a bonus their qualification for the final of the German Cup following their domination against the German D2, Düsseldorf victory 4-0. Opposite, West Ham, who won the Conference League last year, already offered the scalp of a German club in this Europa League.

It was during the previous round, against Fribourg. The English had however been beaten at the Europa Park Stadion 1-0 in the first leg but they recovered perfectly the following week by leaving no chance to their opponent 5-0 to continue their journey in this tournament where they had already took 1st place in their group ahead of Fribourg, Olympiakos and Backa Topola. In the Premier League, the Hammers are out of the race for Europe with 12 points behind 5th, Aston Villa. 7th in the ranking, they managed to win on the Wolverhampton pitch last weekend 1-2. This result put an end to a bad dynamic of 4 matches without a victory in the championship, 3 draws and 1 defeat.

Absent before the international break and therefore during the previous round, serial scorer Boniface (10 goals in the Bundesliga, 4 in C3) will be present (operational last week in the German Cup). The midfielder Arthur, who is his replacement, risks being a little tight (injured). Otherwise, Xabi Alonso should be able to count on all his strong men like the formidable full-backs Grimaldo (9 goals, 11 assists in the Bundesliga), and Frimpong (8 goals, 7 assists) as well as his midfielders , 6 assists) and Wirtz (7 goals, 10 assists) and on the Nigerian Tella (5 goals, 2 assists). Author of a goal in Baku on the first leg and a double on the return leg during the previous round, striker Schick (5 goals in the league, 5 in C3) was the big player in his team's qualification.West Ham has recovered the replacement winger Maxwel Cornet (ex-Lyon) who was injured before the international break but the French goalkeeper, Areola who is the holder of the position this season (replacing however in this C3) remains out, while Bowen has just gets injured and must forfeit.

We should therefore find former Lyonnais Paqueta in the 11th (4 goals and 6 assists in PL, 4 goals in C3). The excellent attackers Kudus (7 goals and 4 goals in PL, 5 goals in C3) and Bowen (15 goals and 3 assists in PL) should also be able to start. The last city, however, has only found the string once in this Europa League.