Hacken vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-29 20:00.
This clash has a real âDavid vs Goliathâ feel to it as HĂ€cken, the only remaining side yet to register a UEFA Europa League point (UEL) point, welcome Bayer Leverkusen who boast a dominant 100% record. With QarabaÄ and Molde locked on six points ahead of their meeting in Group Hâs other game, the Swedish sideâs elimination will be confirmed no matter what happens here, although a victory would mark a historic occasion for the group stage debutants.
HĂ€cken will get another shot at continental action next season thanks to their third-place finish in the Allsvenskan earlier this month which booked them a place in the qualifying rounds of the Europa Conference League. However, with domestic action now having concluded, and with only pride left to play for in their remaining two UEL fixtures, motivation could be low, so the chances of a defeat by a multi-goal margin – as theyâve suffered in three of their four group games – could be on the cards.
Bayer Leverkusen should be feeling quietly confident of matching, and perhaps even bettering, last seasonâs UEL run all the way to the semi-finals. Their place in the knockout stages is already secured after a comfortable group stage run in which theyâve scored 12 goals – four of which came in the first H2H on matchday one – and conceded only two. However, Xabi Alonsoâs men did need a stoppage-time penalty on matchday four to see off QarabaÄ 1-0.
That helped maintain the away side's phenomenal winning run which stretches across 13 competitive matches. In the Bundesliga, their record of 11 wins and one draw after 12 games represents the joint-best ever start in the divisionâs history! Leverkusen's confidence is sure to be sky-high and Die Werkself are fancied to add to their record of five wins from their past six European away games here, even if we see some squad rotation from Alonso.
Players to watch: SrÄan HrstiÄ has scored each of HĂ€ckenâs last two goals, including one on matchday four. Victor Boniface netted in the first H2H between these two, starting a run of scoring in three of Leverkusenâs four UEL games so far.
Hot streak: Leverkusen have scored on or beyond the 70th minute in five successive matches in all competitions.