An interesting showdown in the Europa League playoff round is scheduled for this Thursday, as Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen take on Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. It could be a pivotal first leg between the sides ahead of the return game.
Europa League Preview
AS Monaco will continue their Europa League campaign on Thursday after dropping into the playoff stage. The French side finished second Group H, as they finished behind Ferencvaros courtesy of a poor head-to-head record. This looks to be a challenging tie for the Ligue 1 side, but they have been in steady form in the competition so far this term.
Monaco has won three from six games that they have played, but they have gone two away games in the competition without victory. That poor away record is evident in the fact that they have kept just one clean sheet in their previous ten matches on the road. Their only match away from home that they managed to keep a clean sheet was a 1-0 win over Crvena Zvezda in this year’s group stage.
Bayer Leverkusen have dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in Group B of the Champions League. In truth, that was a decent enough finish for them, as they still managed to finish above Atletico Madrid. But, their only victory in Europe at home this term did come in the form of a 2-0 win over Atletico on matchday two.
Leverkusen come into this fixture having recorded just a single victory from their previous nine games in Europe. Over that run, they have failed to score in six matches and they have been beaten on six occasions. That will need to be a record that they alter if they are to progress from this tie.
Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Monaco Head to Head
This will be a fourth campaign in which Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco have clashed. Leverkusen has won just once in their previous six meetings against the French side, while Monaco having landed three wins. However, that Leverkusen victory did come in the most recent meeting between the sides in December 2016.
Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Monaco Prediction
This should be a very interesting game in the Europa League on Thursday. However, I find it challenging to see past Monaco given the form that they have been in over recent weeks.
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