It is top versus bottom in Group H of the Europa League this week, with Bayer Leverkusen heading to Goteborg to take on BK Hacken at Bravida Arena on Thursday evening.
The hosts have failed to record a single point in the competition after the first four group stage matches, while the visitors will be able to secure their place in the knockout round with a victory in this one.
Match preview
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With the 2023 Allsvenskan season already complete, Hacken will be heading into this game well-rested, having played their last competitive match against Brommapojkarna ahead of the international break.
The Wasps lost that match 2-1 on the road, which capped off a relatively poor end to the domestic season, which saw them finish in third place, seven points behind the top two sides Malmo and Elfsborg.
That result also marked their fourth loss in their last five matches in all competitions, which included back-to-back losses against Molde in this competition, where they conceded eight goals and scored only two in return.
Per-Mathias Hogmo's side will now hope to snap up a four-match winless run in this competition, but that is much easier said than done, having lost 4-0 to this opponent in the reverse fixture back in September.
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Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen returned to the summit of the Bundesliga last weekend after claiming an excellent 3-0 win over Werder Bremen at Weser Stadium following the international break.
With that result, the Black and Reds equalled the best start in the history of the Bundesliga, with their record of 11 wins and a draw now matching the performance of Bayern Munich back in the 2015-16 season.
Not only has it been a record-breaking season for the team, but Xabi Alonso has also become the first Leverkusen manager to win eight consecutive Bundesliga matches, while Alex Grimaldo has become the first player since detailed data collection (2004-05) to be involved in a goal in each of his first six away games in the German top flight.
On top of all that, Bayer Leverkusen are now the first club in Bundesliga history to have scored at least two goals in each of their first 12 league matches.
The visitors come into this match riding a seven-match winning streak, while the last time they tasted defeat on the road was on the final day of last season when they were beaten 3-0 by Bochum.
Team News
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After a difficult domestic season, Hacken ended the term with something of an injury crisis and are likely to be missing as many as seven players for this match.
Amor Layouni (muscle), Tomas Totland (muscle) and Aiham Ousou (head) are out until next season, while Simon Gustafson is in training, but having missed 11 matches, he may only be able to make the bench.
Jacob Barrett Laursen (groin), Valgeir Fridriksson (foot) and Filip Trpcevski have hardly featured at all this season and will not take part in this match as they continue their respective recoveries.
Leverkusen also have a few notable absentees for this match, with Arthur (muscle), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (lack of fitness) and Patrik Schick (calf) all ruled out through injury.
Grimaldo has scored in each of his side's last three matches on the spin and will almost certainly keep his place in midfield, while Victor Boniface will be looking to add to his seven-goal tally this season after failing to find the net in his last five outings.
Hacken possible starting lineup:
Abrahamsson; Sandberg, Hammar, Hovland, Hodzic; Rygaard, Sa. Gustafson, Romeo; Sonko, Chilufya, Hrstic
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie; Tella, Grimaldo, Xhaka, Andrich; Adli, Wirtz; Boniface
We say: Hacken 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen have been sensational this season and are gobbling up team and individual records with each passing week. Few sides have been able to contain their rampant attack this term, and we doubt the hosts will be able to stop them in this one. A comfortable away win is how we see this match ending.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
