There was no hiding from the scale of the challenge, no reason for the usual grumbling at the conservative set-up of David Moyes and his West Ham team.
For 83 minutes here in Leverkusen, facing a side unbeaten in 41 matches, the plan was if not quite working to perfection then on course to reap reward. The scores goalless, the Hammers were within sight of the prize, a return flight home to London and next week’s second leg on equal terms.
