Thank you for joining me.
Jacob Steinberg was in Germany for us. Here is his report.
Lukasz Fabianski: “Very disappointed because we worked for 80 odd minutes but then we conceded from two set-pieces. You have to give credit to the opposition because they pushed for so long and created the chances. If we had kept it at 1-0 it would have given us more chances.
“We worked really hard on defending to try and keep a cleansheet. In the end the amount of chances they created, it resulted in the goals. I think the second set-piece was a bit too easy for Leverkusen to score, the striker had too much space. That is disappointing.
“We have a really good record playing at home. We lost against Freiburg away in the last round and we responded in a strong way.”
Granit Xhaka: “We showed we have the quality and the second goal will help us for the second leg. 1-0 is a difficult result but even 2-0 away against West Ham will be hard but the second goal will help.
“We have the passion to play and believe in ourselves. We gave the quality to score every minute. It was difficult to play against a team playing so deep to find the space but we did.”
Leverkusen edged it.
Bayern Leverkusen's team stats against West Ham:
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024
⚽️ 2 goals
🎯 33 shots (13 on target)
🥅 73 touches in the oppositions box
📊 73% possession
𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🤯 pic.twitter.com/chg9hbQL5x
The second goal.
Another substitute pays dividends for Bayer leverkusen as Victor Boniface gets on the scoresheet 🫡
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024
Xabi Alonso's side make it two against West Ham...
#UEL
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Rl1zvCa3Kr
Full time: Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 West Ham
Two late goals give Leverkusen the advantage going into the second leg. West Ham worked so hard but switched off briefly and now have a mountain to claim in London next week.
It is a short corner this time, allowing Hofman to whip in the cross which Boniface heads into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 West Ham (Boniface 90)
That will be difficult to come back from.
Updated
89 mins: RUDDY HECK! Grimaldo swings in a free-kick. There are three shots in quick succession, resulting in blocks and goal-line clearances from West Ham.
88 mins: Johnson is on for West Ham to provide some freshness.
86 mins: West Ham have worked so hard but without any suitable subs to make, they have naturally tired. Mavropanos’ race is run and needs to be replaced.
85 mins: At Anfield Atalanta are winning 3-0. Oooooof.
Leverkusen get a ninth corner on the match. Grimlado takes it, the ball falls to Boniface who sees his shot blocked by Zouma but the ball loops to Hofman who volleys in from 15 yards.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 West Ham (Hofman 83)
The substitute strikes!
Updated
82 mins: Wirtz cuts in from the left but his shot from 20 yards is straight at Fabianski.
Aguerd is receiving instructions on the touchline.
80 mins: West Ham are up to a whopping 28% possession.
79 mins: Paqueta tries to hold the ball up in the corner without success. West Ham are doing everything they can to leave here with a draw.
Boniface sends a lovely pass through for Hofman to chase but Fabianski just beats him to it, kneeing the ball to safety.
77 mins: Kudus is fouled and takes a quick free-kick. Maybe he’s not received the message to slow things down.
Hofman and Boniface are on for Schick and Adli.
75 mins: Antonio, who looks a touch tired, is bundled over near the left touchline. Ward-Prowse whips the ball in but the goalkeeper claims easily.
Soucek’s pass hits the referee. Was it deliberate to stop the play and slow things down again?
Alonso is preparing Boniface and Hofmann.
73 mins: Kudus is showing some trickery and is fouled, allowing West Ham to waste a good 30 seconds.
Xhaka takes aim from 30 yards but it flashes past the post.
71 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Grimaldo chips a cross to Schick at the front post from where he flicks towards the top corner but Fabianski is equal to it and tips over.
69 mins: I suspect West Ham will need to send on some fresh legs soon. Johnson did well at Wolves, so I expect to see him. I am not sure who else would fit into this side at the moment. Ings might get a run up top …
67 mins: Grimaldo whacks a cross straight into Coufal’s head, leaving the right-back on the deck. That must hurt. He seems OK after treatment.
Hincapie and Tella are on, Frimpong and Stanisic off.
65 mins: The tables are turned and Leverkusen break. Frimpong gets into the area but his cross is blocked by the backtracking defenders. West Ham are extremely committed to the cause here.
63 mins: Tapsoba takes down Kudus inside the Leverkusen half. Ward-Prowse has a chance for a great delivery here … it is decent but Leverkusen do well to clear.
61 mins: West Ham make it to the edge of the Leverkusen box where Paqueta is dispossessed.
Darke says Paqueta has “skills to burn”. Is that a saying?
Updated
59 mins: Wirtz takes a lovely touch in the box and spins to shoot at Fabianski. The goalkeeper holds but the German is offside anyway.
Frimpong drives for the byline and pulls a cross back into space but Soucek is there to mop up.
57 mins: Adli is the latest to roll on the turf after being touched by a West Ham player. In fairness, it is not a great challenge because Emerson’s studs roll over the ball and onto the Leverkusen man’s legs. It is accidental but does not look great.
55 mins: Grimaldo wins Leverkusen a corner on the left. The ball reaches Wirtz in the box and he looks like he is about to shoot but he decides against it and West Ham recover.
53 mins: Paqueta’s arms brushes against Stanisic’s face and goes down. It is not a foul but it is right to check he is OK. It also allows West Ham a few moments of rest.
51 mins: Frimpong sends in a dangerous cross but there is no one there in black and red, allowing Coufal to clear.
Updated
49 mins: West Ham have barely had a kick in this half.
Tim Smith says: “I watched both games of Bayer vs Qarabag in the last round (limited, i.e. only option on TV in the US). While Leverkusen are unbeaten this season they looked far from unbeatable. Qarabag were up in both legs but killed themselves with sending offs and concession of late goals. Qarabag did take the game to Leverkusen though, which West Ham look unlikely to do (at least in this leg).”
47 mins: You will not be surprised to hear that the format is the same; Leverkusen are attacking and West Ham defending.
Kári Tulinius emails: “In the tie to determine West Ham or Leverkusen’s future opponents, Roma lead by one goal to nil, after a header from Gianluca ‘No Relation’ Mancini. The Giallorossi have looked slightly likelier to score, as Milan have been surprisingly dull, perhaps demotivated by their kit, which is the most boring possible version of the great Rossoneri strip.”
Second half
Here we go again!
Your other option tonight is Liverpool v Atalanta with Michael Butler.
Half time: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 West Ham
Leverkusen have dominated possession but West Ham’s defence has been superb. Moyes will be very happy with this.
45 mins: One minute added on.
44 mins: Grimaldo whips in a corner from the left but it results in a dreadful shot wide. West Ham, understandably, take their time over the goal kick. They will be eager to see this through to half time.
Ian Darke keeps saying ‘Grimandi’ instead of Grimaldo and I keep thinking the former Arsenal man is in midfield. He is 53, so seems unlikely.
42 mins: Frimpong picks up a loose ball in the box and spins to shoot but his effort is deflected wide.
40 mins: Ward-Prowse whips in a corner from the left and Kovar comes to punch, getting enough on it and wins a free-kick for his troubles.
Down the other end … Xhaka whips in a cross which Emerson gets confused by and turns behind for a corner with his thigh while trying to kick it the other way.
38 mins: Kudus whips in a cross but neither Antonio nor Emerson can get on the end of it. Both claim they are the victim of fouls but VAR disagrees.
West Ham are performing extremely well. They are operating with a low block and everyone is doing their role exceptionally.
@Will_Unwin can I just say (28 minutes) that West Ham are doing great!
— J-Dubs (Standing up for Roe V Wade & gun control) (@JDubs100J) April 11, 2024
(Apart from having the ball only 13% of the time.)
I think everyone expected them to be two or three goals down by now...
36 mins: Antonio does great work in the final third to bundle his way through three Leverkusen defenders to make his way into the box and win a throw-in.
Updated
34 mins: Adli sends a dangerous low cross into the West Ham box but it is cleared at the near post.
Ward-Prowse is penalised for a foul on Palacios. West Ham very much letting Leverkusen they are there.
32 mins: Mavropanos is late on Wirtz and gives away a free kick 35 yards from goal. I am sure he will not mind too much.
30 mins: Fabianski makes another fine stop to keep things left, tipping a Schick shot across goal wide.
Wirtz is enjoying himself, drifting to wherever he thinks the ball will end up in the opposition half, always looking to create a chance. I have heard the hype around him so it is good to watch him and see what he can offer.
28 mins: West Ham string 20 passes together to take the sting out of the match but there is nothing at the end of it.
26 mins: West Ham have a throw-in which Coufal takes to Soucek who sends it out for a throw to Leverkusen. The visitors need to keep the ball better.
24 mins: Paqueta is late into a tackle on Wirtz, catching him on the top of the boot. He does not get a second yellow but he really needs to watch himself.
Stephen McCrossan asks: “Can you shed any light on what on Earth the nonsensical Robbie Savage was talking about there when he said that Antonio ‘passed the ball to Kudus too early’?”
I think he wanted Antonio to get further into the box before passing but who knows.
Updated
22 mins: A Leverkusen corner pinballs around the six-yard box but West Ham manage to scramble the ball away.
Adli is fouled by Paqueta who is booking, keeping him out of the second leg. A melee ensues and VAR take a look in case it is worthy of a red, which it is not. Paqueta still moans at the referee for some reason.
Updated
20 mins: Antonio is working hard to chase everything he can but it will be a thankless task.
Leverkusen are pinging the ball about and West Ham are struggling to cope with the speed of the passes. Grimaldo takes aim from distance, it looks set for the bottom corner but Fabianski makes a great save to his left.
18 mins: Shick rises highest to reach a cross but his header is a looping one and drifts wide.
16 mins: Leverkusen have a corner on the left which is played short but the routine does not work. This will be a long night of defending for the Hammers.
14 mins: West Ham have 10 behind the ball at all times and they are spending the majority of the match in their own box.
12 mins: We are looking at Leverkusen currently enjoying 81% possession. This is a training game of attack v defence. West Ham know what they have to do.
10 mins: West Ham counter thanks to a lovely touch and turn of pace from Antonio. He drives to the edge of the box and decides to pass to Kudus in space but his shot is straight at the goalkeeper.
Updated
8 mins: Leverkusen camp on the edge of the box and eventually get a chance when Stanisic shoots from 20 yards, it does not look like it will trouble Fabianski but Schick’s flick diverts the ball, making life tougher for the goalkeeper who saves.
6 mins: It is fair to say West Ham are taking their time over everything. Leverkusen, on the other hand, are trying to speed up the game. You can see what the intentions of both teams are already.
4 mins: Wirtz whips in a free-kick from the right to the back post but Coufal flicks it away and gets a headed into the back of his bonce for his troubles. The referee decides it is not a free-kick for some reason.
2 mins: A feel like the commentary team at not in Leverkusen for this, which is a bit underwhelming from TNT. Maybe I am wrong …
Onto the match … It is certainly a back five West Ham as they look to contain Leverkusen in the early stages.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Read some of the wonderful Karen Carney.
Jeremy Boyce emails: “Well, who would have thought the Europa League could have offered us one of the most intriguing ties of end of season Cup hi-jinks ? Unbeaten Leverkusen, virtually home and dry in the Bundesliga with the most loved and courted manager in Europe, v obdurate under-the-radar over-achievers West ‘Am and their loveable, friendly, all-smiles and free-flowing English footie equivalent. BL will obviously go for it, no need to rest players, likewise W’AU as they really need this to guarantee them some more exotic away trips next year. It’s Dr Who v The Daleks. Who’s holding the Sonic Screwdriver ?”
David Moyes: “As high as it comes so far, so looking forward it. It will be a difficult game.
“We want to be flexible during the game, we want to change and adapt. They alter as well so we need to move with them.
“It happens in football, you get injuries and suspensions. We have to show what we have got, the players that come in have a chance to show what they can do.
“I want the players to be really professional, have a good understanding and play at a high level.
“This is the time of the year you have to be in good form. If we win tonight, it will be the first time they have lost, so we have to look at it like that.”
I was at Molineux on Saturday and West Ham were utterly appalling in the first half. They cannot afford to start like that tonight.
There is not a massive amount on the bench for West Ham tonight. I am working on the assumption they will take a draw of single-goal defeat and get back to London.
Focus on …
Leverkusen:
West Ham:
Starting lineups
Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Schick
Subs: Hradecky, Hincapie, Kossounou, Hofmann, Andrich, Iglesias, Arthur, Tella, Boniface, Puerta, Lomb
West Ham (5-3-2): Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Cresswell, Emerson; Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Soucek; Kudus, Antonio
Subs: Anang, Knightbridge, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Ings, Johnson, Cornet, Mubama, Earthy, Orford, Casey
Updated
Preamble
They might be unbeaten in the Bundesliga but Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are yet to come up against the might of West Ham. Despite all the criticism of David Moyes and the style of football his side produce, they are seventh in the Premier League, not to mention in the final stages of the Europa League.
Unfortunately for West Ham they will be without Jarrod Bowen who suffered an injury in the the dramatic victory at Wolves on Saturday. They did not miss him too much after he went off at Molineux but facing the Bundesliga champions-elect is another kettle of fish.
Alonso could have the pick of jobs around Europe this summer but he has chosen to stay at Leverkusen and build on an absolutely fantastic season. He will fancy he chances of progressing in this competition, too.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
