UEL: Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham Lines, Preview
Quarter-Final First Leg Kicks off in Leverkusen
Huge Week for Leverkusen
This is a massive week for Bayer Leverkusen. They can get one foot into the Europa League Semifinal on Thursday if they’re able to defeat West Ham. Then, on Sunday, Leverkusen can clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title five games early if they’re able to defeat Werder Bremen.
The Hammers, 2022-23 Conference League champions, would love to be the ones to end Leverkusen’s ridiculous 41 game unbeaten run on Thursday but they’ve been an inconsistent bunch lately. Ahead of this first leg Europa League Quarter-Final, we’ll check out the Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham lines.
Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham
Day/Time:
Location: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham Head-to-Head:
This is the first-ever chance to bet on the Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham lines. West Ham have played six games vs German teams over the last couple of seasons. They lost both legs to Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021-22 UEL Semifinal.
However, the Hammers went 3-1 in four Europa League fixtures vs SC Freiburg this season in the Group Stage and Round of 16. This is Leverkusen’s first match vs English opposition since the 2016-17 UCL, when Bayer drew 0-0 and defeated Tottenham 1-0 in the Group Stage.
Bayer Leverkusen: Comeback Kings
Bayer Leverkusen narrowly defeated a ten man Union Berlin 1-0 last Saturday as Florian Wirtz converted a late first half penalty. Nathan Tella did excellent work on the right wing and Union’s Robin Gosens couldn’t keep up with him.
Gosens received his second yellow card a few minutes before halftime and Leverkusen’s penalty was unrelated to the sending off. A Union player handballed the ball in the box and Wirtz scored his eighth goal of the Bundesliga season.
Now, Leverkusen are just two games away from equalling Juventus’ record 43 game unbeaten run for teams in the top five European leagues. Bayer also just need to win this weekend vs Werder Bremen to clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title. Xabi Alonso’s men could win three trophies this season, as they’re also in the DFB-Pokal Final and the Europa League Quarters. Looking at the bracket, Leverkusen would play the winner of AC Milan and Roma if they advance.
Bayer Leverkusen have won nine of their ten Europa League games this season. In the Round of 16, they had to come back from two down to draw at Qarabag in the first leg. Qarabag also took a 2-0 lead in the second leg but Jeremie Frimpong got a goal back in the 72nd minute. Then, substitute striker Patrik Schick scored twice in stoppage time to complete an incredible comeback. On Thursday, Tella and Adam Hlozek will likely miss out due to injury.
Hammers Missing Bowen
West Ham went on the road to Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday and were outplayed in the first half. Hosts Wolves won a penalty that Pablo Sarabia managed to convert to put them ahead. The Hammers put in a better effort in the second period and won a penalty of their own.
Lucas Paqueta coolly slotted home in the bottom right corner and West Ham would take the lead in another dead ball situation.
James Ward-Prowse is known for his free kicks and deadly deliveries and the midfielder incredibly scored directly from a corner for the game winner. West Ham, who won the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, lost just one of their Europa League fixtures in this season’s Group Stage.
However, the Hammers did fall 1-0 to SC Freiburg in the first leg of the Round of 16, after defeating the German side twice in the Group Stage.
Back in London, West Ham destroyed Freiburg 5-0 to grab a 5-1 victory, on aggregate. Unfortunately, Jarrod Bowen, who is West Ham’s leading scorer this season, has been ruled out of the first leg at Leverkusen with an injury.
That could mean Michail Antonio returns to the starting lineup. Midfielder Edson Alvarez is also suspended and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is out with a muscle injury.
Match Analysis & Odds
Betting against Bayer Leverkusen this season has typically been a fool’s errand but they did fail to cover the spread in both matches vs Qarabag in the Round of 16. Leverkusen may not always take the easy route but it’s hard to argue with their results this season. They hold a 36-5-0 record, in all competitions, and have been playing with an unmatched swagger.
While Leverkusen have failed to win on just five occasions this season, West Ham have failed to win five of their last seven matches overall. The Hammers are quite inconsistent but have found European success over the last few seasons. Still, the Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham lines price hosts Leverkusen as -235 favorites. Bayer -1 comes in at -135, while West Ham +1 displays +105 odds.
The Hammers are +580 underdogs, which corresponds to an implied 13.8 percent probability of victory without the vig. West Ham would certainly take a draw (+365) in this one. David Moyes’ side will believe they can get the job done back in London. This isn’t exactly expected to be a shootout, as under three goals are priced at -125 odds.
For Europa League betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
