Two top teams go head-to-head in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League quarter-final as the stakes are ramped up for what looks to be an exciting climax to this season.
One of the best teams in European football this season, Bayer Leverkusen, faces a tantalizing knockout clash with last season’s Europa Conference League winners, West Ham. They battle for a place in the Semi-final against the winner of the all-Italian quarter-final between AC Milan and Roma.
This is the first-ever competitive meeting between both clubs, although their preseason friendly went 4-0 in favor of the Germans in August 2023.
The Bundesliga leaders are unbeaten in all competitions this season, a German record, and they must get past West Ham in what is shaping up to be a campaign of unthinkable success.
Leverkusen stormed through Group H with a 100% record against Qarabag, Molde, and BK Hacken before battling hard to overcome Qarabag 5-4 on aggregate thanks to a late winner in the Round of 16.
Xabi Alonso has overseen a wonderful turnaround from also-rans to leading the title charge this term, a summer of smart spending saw them recruit key additions. This set them up for a four-match winning streak to start the season as they also asserted their dominance in the Europa League group stage.
The goals kept flying in and the wins kept coming as Leverkusen did not draw a match again until against Borussia Dortmund in December. As all of Germany found a way to stop Alonso’s winning machine, the rest of the world truly took notice after they demolished Bayern Munich 3-0.
The resumption of the UEL knockout stage saw Qarabag go close to ending their unbeaten run, until Patrik Schick’s 92nd-minute leveller for 2-2. The Azerbaijani champions went close to repeating the trick a week later but the Czech striker denied them a fairytale by popping up with a brace in added time to win the second leg 3-2.
Leverkusen are already 20 points better off than their points total from the whole of last season as they sit 10 points ahead of Bayern Munich with eight matches to go. They can still complete a sensational treble but they have handled each game of this remarkable streak as it comes.
Die Schwarzroten are seemingly unbreakable and their momentum would be very difficult to handle by West Ham. Yet, the Hammers have relevant experience in navigating these European knockout games.
David Moyes’ side will face German opponents again having defeated Freiburg in the Round of 16. This is the 14th occasion the Irons will be facing a German club, more than they have faced opponents from any other country in UEFA competitions.
West Ham topped Group A after five wins from six and they are eyeing a run to another European final this term.
The Londoners started the campaign with a draw and three victories before losing successive games to Manchester City and Liverpool. There were three more defeats over their next five league games but the Hammers turned it around with three wins and a draw from the next four.
However, they suffered a heavy London derby defeat against Fulham who ran riot with a 5-0 victory. Since then, West Ham kept clean sheets in their final three league games of 2023 during which they also beat Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Hammers failed to win any of their first eight matches of the New Year which included a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United and a 6-nil at home to Arsenal. Moyes’ side struggled in the absence of key players and it was not surprising that their turnaround coincided with the return of Lucas Paqueta in the 4-2 win over Brentford.
A second-half comeback against Everton was just what the doctor ordered but they suffered defeat at the hands of Freiburg in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie. West Ham then responded with a resounding five-goal victory to cruise into the Last Eight of a UEFA competition for an unprecedented third consecutive season.
They will fancy their chances of going all the way in this competition and could potentially spoil the ‘dream’ Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen final that will see Klopp go against his likely successor.
Match Tickets
This UEFA Europa League Quarter-final takes place on Thursday, 11 April 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 8 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on the website of both clubs with allocation guaranteed for only season ticket holders and registered, eligible members.
West Ham have been allocated 1,790 tickets so getting them via official sources is proving a dead end due to overwhelming demand. Traveling supporters are hence advised to source for their Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham tickets on a ticket resale site.
Team News
Arthur, Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann and Exequiel Palacios are on the Leverkusen injury list at the time of writing but it remains to be seen how many of them could be back available for this match.
Having suffered an unlucky spell with key players out, West Ham currently have Emerson, Mohammed Kudus and Maxwel Cornet as the only slight concerns but all are likely to be fit soon.
Line-ups
Florian Wirtz is the jewel in the Leverkusen crown with his three goals and four assists in Europe this term and he is key to unlocking the visitors’ backline.
A return for Victor Boniface ahead of this tie could also be crucial as the Nigerian striker will provide a big boost for his team who have missed his multifaceted attacking threat.
Bayer Leverkusen: Kovar; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Grimaldo, Palacios, Xhaka, Frimpong; Adli, Iglesias, Wirtz
Moyes has a group of trusted lieutenants who are capable of doing the job against just any team. There is a strong core and their wholesome attacking threat makes them a danger for any opponents.
West Ham: Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, Antonio
Prediction
Leverkusen may be the darling team on the continent right now but West Ham have proven their mettle in the latter stages of European Cup competitions. This throws up an interesting face-off as the hosts will look to dominate their opponents but West Ham are counter-attacking experts.
West Ham would do well to stave off the animosity from the crowd, respect their opponents and focus on taking a result home.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 West Ham
