Bayer Leverkusen will host Qarabag in the Round of 16 of the Europa League. Die Werkself had to fight back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw in the first leg. With a quarterfinal position up for grabs, the return match in Germany could be exciting.
Preview (Bayer Leverkusen vs. Qarabag FK)
Last week, Qarabag led Leverkusen by two goals going into the final 20 minutes of their first leg in Azerbaijan. Goals from Yassine Benzia and Juninho in the first half had given the team a record-breaking unbeaten run. Xabi Alonso made eight changes to his starting eleven. He was forced to depend on a few replacements to give Die Werkself a point back. Florian Wirtz first pulled one back with a nice run and finished before Patrik Schick scored a thrilling equalizer.
Last Sunday, Leverkusen defeated 10-man Wolfsburg 2-0 in the Bundesliga to record their 31st victory across all competitions. It capped just their fifth draw of the season. After Mortiz Jenz was sent off early, Nathan Tella and Wirtz scored goals on each side of halftime. It kept the team’s 10-point lead at the top with nine games left. Leverkusen is determined to improve on their defeat to Roma in the Europa League semi-finals the previous season. It made it to their first European final since the Champions League championship game in 2001–02. Die Werkself have advanced from seven of the ten previous European knockout ties after drawing the first leg. They should be optimistic about their chances on Thursday.
Leverkusen will be happy to play again at the BayArena, where they triumphed in all three of their Europa League matches this year, most notably a convincing 5-1 victory against Qarabag in the group stage in October. After themselves in 1994–95, Alonso’s club is attempting to become just the second team in UEFA Cup/Europa League history to score four goals or more in four straight home games.
Team News
Victor Boniface and Arthur of Leverkusen are still out due to groin and thigh injuries, respectively. Backup goalie Matej Kovar is doubtful after missing the game the previous weekend due to a muscle ailment. First-choice stopper Lukas Hradecky may start his first Europa League match of the season. After serving a domestic suspension the previous weekend, Jeremie Frimpong is eligible to play on Thursday. Tella and Josh Stanisic will compete for a starting position at right wing-back, with Alex Grimaldo starting on the left.
Only Wirtz (seven goals and four assists) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ten) have helped more goals in the Europa League this season than Wirtz (eight). The highly-rated German is anticipated to play in the number 10 role, either in place of Amine Adli or in addition to him, as Schick battles Borja Iglesias for a starting position up front. Left-back Elvin Cafarquliyev and midfielder Julio Romao, who missed the first game due to suspension, will both be returning for Qarabag, which will help them.
In order to shield former Leverkusen custodian Andrei Lunev, Cafarquliyev might line up in the back four with Marko Vesovic, Babul Mustafazada, and Badavi Guseynov. While Leandro Andrade, Benzia, and Abdullah Zoubir all support central striker Juninho in attack—who has scored three of his four Europa League goals this season away from home—Romagno and Marko Jankovic are the most probable pair to link arms in center-midfield.
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Qarabag FK
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