(Football news) A spot in the last 16 of the Europa League will be on the line as Monaco host Bayer Leverkusen at Stade Louis II. In the opening leg the Monegasque side completed a major comeback with two goals in the final 16 minutes plus stoppage winner to win the match 3-2, so a victory or draw will be enough to put them through to the next stage of this competition. Philippe Clement’s men will have the upper hand heading to the Principality, and they will fancy their chances of going through as Monaco are unbeaten in their last 13 UEFA League fixtures played on home soil.
It is a pretty safe bet that this group of players will find the back of the net as they have done so in 33 consecutive Ligue 1 matches, though they failed to score twice in the group stage of this competition. Since losing 1-0 to Ferencvaros on matchday two, they have looked unstoppable at home especially in the attacking third, outscoring their last two Europa League opponents at Stade Louis II by huge margin of 7-2, while scoring a combined 13 times in their previous three domestic affairs in the Principality. Their last defeat at home in the knockout stage of this came against a German opponent only when they lost 1-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach during the 1996-97 UEFA Cup but they still advanced from that tie, 4-3 on aggregate
Leverkusen missed a golden opportunity to take a lead in the opening leg of this tie as they reacted well in the second half with two goals in the opening 15 minutes, but they ultimately left too many gaps at the back through in the latter stages. Throughout the 2022-23 season Leverkusen have seen them suffer some disastrous mishaps which have come back to bite them. History suggests that their odds of reversing this one-goal deficit are difficult as Leverkusen have been eliminated from all 11 two-legged knockout ties when losing the opening fixture at home.
Even though a one-goal victory would keep this tie alive, Xabi Alonso might not feel good about his side’s chances in a shootout, with Leverkusen have registered the most misses from the penalty box as they have missed six of their last eight penalties in the Bundesliga, including this past weekend when they lost to Mainz 3-2 Given how poor they have been at home lately, going on the road might not be so bad, as Bayer have won two of their previous three Bundesliga away matches. Their track record versus Ligue 1 opponents is not great, winning only once,as the last victory came when they defeated Nice 3-2 in the 2020-21 group stage at Allianz Riviera.
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Matsima, Disasi, Sarr, Henrique; Diatta, Fofana, Camara, Golovin; Ben Seghir, Ben Yedder
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Frimpong, Tapsoda, Tah, Bakker; Andrich, Palacios; Adli, Wirtz, Amiri; Schick
