Bayer Leverkusen vs Molde Prediction: Leverkusen levels above Norwegians

Bayer Leverkusen have qualification for the knockout rounds of the Europa League wrapped up after taking maximum points from their five matches in what has been a dominant display from the German side. 

However, Molde need a positive result, if they are to move up past Qarabag in second place and earn themselves a spot in the knockout round playoffs.

It’s hard to see Leverkusen not taking another three points, on what we have seen in the competition to date, but there could be changes to the Die Werkself starting line-up from Xabi Alonso and that adds an added layer of intrigue to Thursday night’s clash.

Team news

Arthur is one Leverkusen player that is sure to miss out on Thursday with the right-back suffering with a tendon injury.

Goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrom is out with a broken foot and Erling Knudtzon has concussion.

Match Odds

Leverkusen are 1/3 to win, Molde are 7/1, while the draw is priced at 9/2.

Bayer Leverkusen to win and over 2.5 goals @ 8/11

Bayern Leverkusen are just about the most in-form team in Europe and it’s an unbeaten run that has stretched to all of Die Werkself 22 matches this season.

The German side have a perfect five wins from the Europa League group stage and Alonso’s men have rattled in 14 goals across that quintet of matches and conceded only two.

Leverkusen are four points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table and they come into this Europa League tie having won 15 of their last 17 matches.

Clearly, the big question is over team selection and motivation on Thursday, given that Leverkusen are already assured to top the section, but there is likely to be some continuity with cup keeper Matej Kovar likely to continue in goal and Alonso is unlikely to want to give up Die Werkself’s unbeaten record.

Molde lifted the Norwegian Football Cup at the weekend and they are likely to be boosted by that victory, but Erling Moe’s men have kept a single Europa League clean sheet this season and they are unlikely to stop a rampant Leverkusen side.

Take the Germans for a high-scoring victory.

Victor Boniface to score anytime @ 4/5

Leverkusen should prove too strong for Molde and the Germans have notched 14 goals in the group stage. The section standings mean that the Norwegians are likely to have to push forward at some point in the contest and Alonso’s men are a dangerous outfit on the counter-attack.

Alonso could make changes to his starting eleven, but Victor Boniface has made the line-up from the beginning of the match in four of Leverkusen’s five Europa League matches and the Nigerian has found the target in each of the games he has started.

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