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West Ham vs Bayer Leverkusen Lineups: A Tactical Preview

The highly anticipated Europa League clash between West Ham United and Bayer Leverkusen is set to take place on Thursday, April 13th, at the London Stadium. Both teams will be looking to secure a victory to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

West Ham United

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Lukasz Fabianski
Defenders: Aaron Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma, Vladimir Coufal
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek
Attacking Midfielders: Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, Nikola Vlasic
Striker: Michail Antonio

Key Players:

Declan Rice: The England international is the heartbeat of West Ham's midfield, providing both defensive cover and attacking impetus.
Jarrod Bowen: The 25-year-old has been in sensational form this season, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions.
Michail Antonio: The Jamaican striker is a handful for opposition defenses, known for his physical presence and clinical finishing.

Bayer Leverkusen

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Lukáš Hrádecký
Defenders: Mitchel Bakker, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Daley Sinkgraven
Midfielders: Robert Andrich, Kerem Demirbay
Attacking Midfielders: Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby, Ryan Fraser
Striker: Patrik Schick

Key Players:

Florian Wirtz: The German wonderkid is one of the most exciting young talents in Europe, known for his creativity and goalscoring ability.
Moussa Diaby: The French winger is a pacey and dangerous attacker, who can create chances for himself and others.
Patrik Schick: The Czech striker is Leverkusen's leading goalscorer this season, with 20 goals in all competitions.

Tactical Analysis

West Ham's Approach

West Ham are likely to adopt a cautious approach in this match, knowing that an away goal could be crucial. They will look to soak up Leverkusen's pressure and hit them on the counterattack.

Key Tactics:

Compact Defense: West Ham will defend in a low block, with their midfielders sitting deep to protect the back four.
Counterattacking: The Hammers will look to break quickly when they win possession, utilizing the pace of Bowen and Antonio.
Set Pieces: West Ham are dangerous from set pieces, with the likes of Soucek and Zouma posing a threat from corners and free kicks.

Leverkusen's Approach

Leverkusen will be the more attacking team in this match, knowing that they need to win to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. They will look to control possession and create chances through their talented attacking players.

Key Tactics:

High Press: Leverkusen will press West Ham high up the pitch, forcing them to play long balls or make mistakes.
Quick Passing: Leverkusen will look to move the ball quickly and efficiently, creating space for their attackers to operate in.
Wing Play: Leverkusen's wingers, Diaby and Fraser, will be key in providing width and creating chances for Schick.

Head-to-Head Record

West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before in European competition.

Odds

According to the latest betting odds, Bayer Leverkusen are the slight favorites to win the match, with odds of 2.20. West Ham are priced at 3.20, while a draw is available at 3.60.

Conclusion

This match is likely to be a close and entertaining affair, with both teams evenly matched. West Ham's resilience and counterattacking threat will be put to the test against Leverkusen's attacking firepower. Ultimately, the team that makes the most of their chances is likely to come out on top.