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West Ham set for crucial Europa League clash against Bayer Leverkusen
First-leg meeting in Germany will set the tone for the quarterfinal tie
London, England - West Ham United will be looking to take a significant step towards the Europa League semifinals when they travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie on Thursday. The Hammers have enjoyed a strong run in the competition so far, but they will face a tough test against a Leverkusen side that is in excellent form and will be buoyed by the home crowd.
Team news
West Ham manager David Moyes has a number of injury concerns to contend with ahead of the game. Michail Antonio, Angelo Ogbonna, and Issa Diop are all doubts, while Kurt Zouma is suspended. However, Moyes will be boosted by the return of Aaron Cresswell, who has been out with a hamstring injury.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will be without the suspended Edmond Tapsoba. However, they will be able to call upon the likes of Patrik Schick, Florian Wirtz, and Moussa Diaby, who have all been in impressive form this season.
What to expect
The game is expected to be a close and competitive affair. West Ham will be looking to take an early lead and then sit back and defend their advantage. Leverkusen, on the other hand, will be looking to attack from the start and put the Hammers under pressure.
The result of the first leg will be crucial in determining the outcome of the tie. If West Ham can win or draw in Germany, they will be in a strong position to progress to the semifinals. However, if Leverkusen win, they will be the favorites to go through.
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