West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction: Hammers in trouble at home

West Ham have a big job on their hands if they are to make it to the semi-finals of the Europa League. They are currently 2-0 down to newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, who under Xabi Alonso are looking to achieve an invincible season across three competitions. 

They are still in with a chance of completing the most incredible season, but how much will those Bundesliga celebrations at the weekend have taken out of them as they head to London? West Ham will be hoping to take advantage of any hangover, and keep their fading European dreams alive (20:00, TNT Sports). Here’s my West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction.

Team News

George Earthy will miss this game having collided with Edson Alvarez in the defeat to Fulham and subsequently being taken to hospital. He’s since been discharged but this game comes too soon for his return, and the same can be said for Kalvin Phillips, Alphonse Areola and Jarrod Bowen. 

The top scorer is still suffering with a back issue that will see him sit out, while Lucas Paqueta and Emerson are ruled out of this one through suspension. That’s a big blow for David Moyes, while Dinos Mavropanos has failed to complete the full 90 minutes in his last two games. 

Adam Hlozek is the only absentee for Leverkusen, which is a great boost for Alonso heading into this game. Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick will continue to battle for the number nine spot, while Florian Wirtz will return to the starting line-up, after his hat-trick from the bench against Werder Bremen. 

Match Odds

West Ham are priced at 23/10 to win this game, with Bayer Leverkusen the favourites, priced at EVS to take the win in 90 minutes. That means the German side have a win probability of 50% according to the odds, while a draw is priced at 3/1. BTTS is available at 4/7 and over 2.5 goals is 8/13.

Bayer Leverkusen to win @ EVS

West Ham have to win. They need to try and claw back the two-goal deficit they lost in Germany, and they did well for 80 minutes in the first leg. However, they are coming up against a winning machine in Leverkusen. It’s hard to explain just how good Alonso has made Bayer Leverkusen, but they are one of the best teams in Europe. 

I genuinely think they’d have a real shot at winning the Champions League if they were in that competition, and they should be able to go all the way in the Europa League. They’ve not lost a single game in any competition this season. I repeat. They have not lost a single game of football this season. It would take something special for West Ham to end that unbeaten run, and in my eyes it’s far more likely that Leverkusen kill this tie off with another win on the road. A simple choice, but the right one. 

Florian Wirtz to score anytime @ 12/5

Bayer Leverkusen don’t have any major names in their squad, which makes their achievements even more impressive. But without a doubt, their best player is Florian Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who looks like he could do something special for Germany at Euro 2024. 

Wirtz was named on the bench against Werder Bremen, but still came off the bench to score a hat-trick and will play a key role at the London Stadium. He’s now scored 17 goals in 41 games, to go with his 18 assists this term, and I’m expecting more of the same against West Ham. 

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