Key occasions
73 minutes: Kudus is exhibiting some trickery and is fouled, permitting West Ham to waste an excellent 30 seconds.
Xhaka takes intention from 30 yards however it flashes previous the submit.
71 minutes: WHAT A SAVE! Grimaldo chips a cross to Schick on the entrance submit from the place he flicks in direction of the highest nook however Fabianski is the same as it and ideas over.
69 minutes: I believe West Ham might want to ship on some recent legs quickly. Johnson did nicely at Wolves, so I anticipate to see him. I’m not positive who else would match into this aspect for the time being. Ings may get a run up high …
67 minutes: Grimaldo whacks a cross straight into Coufal’s head, leaving the right-back on the deck. That should damage. He appears OK after therapy.
Hincapie and Tella are on, Frimpong and Stanisic off.
65 minutes: The tables are turned and Leverkusen break. Frimpong will get into the world however his cross is blocked by the backtracking defenders. West Ham are extraordinarily dedicated to the trigger right here.
63 minutes: Tapsoba takes down Kudus contained in the Leverkusen half. Ward-Prowse has an opportunity for a terrific supply right here … it’s first rate however Leverkusen do nicely to clear.
61 minutes: West Ham make it to the sting of the Leverkusen field the place Paqueta is dispossessed.
Darke says Paqueta has “expertise to burn”. Is {that a} saying?
59 minutes: Wirtz takes a beautiful contact within the field and spins to shoot at Fabianski. The goalkeeper holds however the German is offside anyway.
Frimpong drives for the byline and pulls a cross again into house however Soucek is there to mop up.
57 minutes: Adli is the newest to roll on the turf after being touched by a West Ham participant. In equity, it isn’t a terrific problem as a result of Emerson’s studs roll over the ball and onto the Leverkusen man’s legs. It’s unintentional however doesn’t look nice.
55 minutes: Grimaldo wins Leverkusen a nook on the left. The ball reaches Wirtz within the field and he seems to be like he’s about to shoot however he decides in opposition to it and West Ham recuperate.
53 minutes: Paqueta’s arms brushes in opposition to Stanisic’s face and goes down. It isn’t a foul however it’s proper to examine he’s OK. It additionally permits West Ham a couple of moments of relaxation.
51 minutes: Frimpong sends in a harmful cross however there isn’t a one there in black and purple, permitting Coufal to clear.
49 minutes: West Ham have barely had a kick on this half.
Tim Smith says: “I watched each video games of Bayer vs Qarabag within the final spherical (restricted, i.e. solely choice on TV within the US). Whereas Leverkusen are unbeaten this season they appeared removed from unbeatable. Qarabag had been up in each legs however killed themselves with sending offs and concession of late objectives. Qarabag did take the sport to Leverkusen although, which West Ham look unlikely to do (not less than on this leg).”
47 minutes: You’ll not be stunned to listen to that the format is identical; Leverkusen are attacking and West Ham defending.
Kári Tulinius emails: “Within the tie to find out West Ham or Leverkusen’s future opponents, Roma lead by one aim to nil, after a header from Gianluca ‘No Relation’ Mancini. The Giallorossi have appeared barely likelier to attain, as Milan have been surprisingly uninteresting, maybe demotivated by their equipment, which is essentially the most boring attainable model of the good Rossoneri strip.”
Second half
Right here we go once more!
Your different choice tonight is Liverpool v Atalanta with Michael Butler.
Half time: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 West Ham
Leverkusen have dominated possession however West Ham’s defence has been excellent. Moyes shall be very proud of this.
45 minutes: One minute added on.
44 minutes: Grimaldo whips in a nook from the left however it ends in a dreadful shot broad. West Ham, understandably, take their time over the aim kick. They are going to be wanting to see this by to half time.
Ian Darke retains saying ‘Grimandi’ as a substitute of Grimaldo and I hold pondering the previous Arsenal man is in midfield. He’s 53, so appears unlikely.
42 minutes: Frimpong picks up a free ball within the field and spins to shoot however his effort is deflected broad.
40 minutes: Ward-Prowse whips in a nook from the left and Kovar involves punch, getting sufficient on it and wins a free-kick for his troubles.
Down the opposite finish … Xhaka whips in a cross which Emerson will get confused by and turns behind for a nook along with his thigh whereas making an attempt to kick it the opposite method.
38 minutes: Kudus whips in a cross however neither Antonio nor Emerson can get on the top of it. Each declare they’re the sufferer of fouls however VAR disagrees.
West Ham are performing extraordinarily nicely. They’re working with a low block and everyone seems to be doing their position exceptionally.
36 minutes: Antonio does nice work within the last third to bundle his method by three Leverkusen defenders to make his method into the field and win a throw-in.
34 minutes: Adli sends a harmful low cross into the West Ham field however it’s cleared on the close to submit.
Ward-Prowse is penalised for a foul on Palacios. West Ham very a lot letting Leverkusen they’re there.
32 minutes: Mavropanos is late on Wirtz and provides away a free kick 35 yards from aim. I’m positive he is not going to thoughts an excessive amount of.
30 minutes: Fabianski makes one other nice cease to maintain issues left, tipping a Schick shot throughout aim broad.
Wirtz is having fun with himself, drifting to wherever he thinks the ball will find yourself within the opposition half, at all times seeking to create an opportunity. I’ve heard the hype round him so it’s good to look at him and see what he can provide.
28 minutes: West Ham string 20 passes collectively to take the sting out of the match however there may be nothing on the finish of it.
26 minutes: West Ham have a throw-in which Coufal takes to Soucek who sends it out for a throw to Leverkusen. The guests have to hold the ball higher.
24 minutes: Paqueta is late right into a sort out on Wirtz, catching him on the highest of the boot. He doesn’t get a second yellow however he actually wants to look at himself.
Stephen McCrossan asks: “Are you able to shed any gentle on what on Earth the nonsensical Robbie Savage was speaking about there when he mentioned that Antonio ‘handed the ball to Kudus too early’?”
I feel he wished Antonio to get additional into the field earlier than passing however who is aware of.
22 minutes: A Leverkusen nook pinballs across the six-yard field however West Ham handle to scramble the ball away.
Adli is fouled by Paqueta who’s reserving, retaining him out of the second leg. A melee ensues and VAR have a look in case it’s worthy of a purple, which it isn’t. Paqueta nonetheless moans on the referee for some cause.
20 minutes: Antonio is working arduous to chase the whole lot he can however will probably be a thankless activity.
Leverkusen are pinging the ball about and West Ham are struggling to deal with the velocity of the passes. Grimaldo takes intention from distance, it seems to be set for the underside nook however Fabianski makes a terrific save to his left.
18 minutes: Shick rises highest to succeed in a cross however his header is a looping one and drifts broad.
16 minutes: Leverkusen have a nook on the left which is performed quick however the routine doesn’t work. This shall be a protracted evening of defending for the Hammers.
14 minutes: West Ham have 10 behind the ball always and they’re spending the vast majority of the match in their very own field.
12 minutes: We’re Leverkusen at the moment having fun with 81% possession. It is a coaching recreation of assault v defence. West Ham know what they need to do.
10 minutes: West Ham counter because of a beautiful contact and switch of tempo from Antonio. He drives to the sting of the field and decides to move to Kudus in house however his shot is straight on the goalkeeper.
8 minutes: Leverkusen camp on the sting of the field and ultimately get an opportunity when Stanisic shoots from 20 yards, it doesn’t seem like it is going to bother Fabianski however Schick’s flick diverts the ball, making life more durable for the goalkeeper who saves.
6 minutes: It’s honest to say West Ham are taking their time over the whole lot. Leverkusen, then again, try to hurry up the sport. You’ll be able to see what the intentions of each groups are already.
4 minutes: Wirtz whips in a free-kick from the proper to the again submit however Coufal flicks it away and will get a headed into the again of his bonce for his troubles. The referee decides it isn’t a free-kick for some cause.
2 minutes: A really feel just like the commentary group at not in Leverkusen for this, which is a bit underwhelming from TNT. Perhaps I’m improper …
Onto the match … It’s actually a again 5 West Ham as they give the impression of being to comprise Leverkusen within the early levels.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Right here we go!
Learn a number of the fantastic Karen Carney.
Jeremy Boyce emails: “Effectively, who would have thought the Europa League may have supplied us probably the most intriguing ties of finish of season Cup hi-jinks ? Unbeaten Leverkusen, just about house and dry within the Bundesliga with essentially the most beloved and courted supervisor in Europe, v stubborn under-the-radar over-achievers West ‘Am and their loveable, pleasant, all-smiles and free-flowing English footie equal. BL will clearly go for it, no have to relaxation gamers, likewise W’AU as they actually need this to ensure them some extra unique away journeys subsequent 12 months. It’s Dr Who v The Daleks. Who’s holding the Sonic Screwdriver ?”
David Moyes: “As excessive because it comes thus far, so wanting ahead it. It will likely be a troublesome recreation.
“We need to be versatile through the recreation, we need to change and adapt. They alter as nicely so we have to transfer with them.
“It occurs in soccer, you get accidents and suspensions. We now have to indicate what we have now bought, the gamers that are available in have an opportunity to indicate what they’ll do.
“I would like the gamers to be actually skilled, have an excellent understanding and play at a excessive degree.
“That is the time of the 12 months you must be in good kind. If we win tonight, will probably be the primary time they’ve misplaced, so we have now to take a look at it like that.”
I used to be at Molineux on Saturday and West Ham had been completely appalling within the first half. They can not afford to begin like that tonight.
There’s not an enormous quantity on the bench for West Ham tonight. I’m engaged on the idea they are going to take a draw of single-goal defeat and get again to London.
Deal with …
Leverkusen:
West Ham:
Beginning 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
Preamble
They could be unbeaten within the Bundesliga however Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are but to return up in opposition to the may of West Ham. Regardless of all of the criticism of David Moyes and the model of soccer his aspect produce, they’re seventh within the Premier League, to not point out within the last levels of the Europa League.
Sadly for West Ham they are going to be with out Jarrod Bowen who suffered an harm within the the dramatic victory at Wolves on Saturday. They didn’t miss him an excessive amount of after he went off at Molineux however going through the Bundesliga champions-elect is one other kettle of fish.
Alonso may have the decide of jobs round Europe this summer time however he has chosen to remain at Leverkusen and construct on a fully improbable season. He’ll fancy he possibilities of progressing on this competitors, too.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm BST