Xabi Alonso has a full strength squad available for Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League quarter-final second-leg against West Ham at the London Stadium on Thursday night.
Leverkusen come into this game unbeaten in 43 games across all competitions, and full of confidence after clinching their maiden Bundesliga title on Sunday afternoon. Not only that, they hold a 2-0 lead over the Premier League side but despite doubts over focus, Alonso reiterated that his Leverkusen side have the ‘hunger and desire’ to win, with a potential treble-winning season on the cards.
Between Thursday and Sunday, Alonso made seven changes to the team that started against Werder Bremen at the weekend with Thursday’s Europa League game in mind. Matěj Kovář, as Bayer’s cup goalkeeper, will return in goal with the back three expected to remain the same. Piero Hincapié came in for Álex Grimaldo on Sunday but expect the latter to return to the starting eleven.
Jeremie Frimpong should also return ahead of Nathan Tella, while Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich are likely to remain the double pivot in Leverkusen’s midfield, but Exequiel Palacios remains an option.
Hat-trick hero Florian Wirtz is a certain to start, likely in place on Jonas Hofmann, who opened the scoring in the reverse fixture, while Amine Adli and Victor Boniface are likely to keep their starting positions.
Bayer Leverkusen predicted XI vs West Ham
Matěj Kovář – Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba – Jeremie Frimpong, Robert Andrich, Granit Xhaka, Álex Grimaldo – Florian Wirtz, Amine Adli – Victor Boniface.
