On Thursday, starting with 17:55, the match Leverkusen – Slavia Prague will be played, within the Europa League group stage. In the round, Slavia Prague won 1-0, through the goal scored by Olayinka, in the 80th minute. In that match, Bellarabi (Leverkusen) was eliminated in the 22nd minute, and Stanciu missed a penalty (min. 65). Apart from the Germans and the Czechs, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Nice are also part of group C.
Leverkusen and Slavia Prague each scored 12 points in the first 5 stages and are already qualified for the Europa League play-offs. The Czechs are currently in the first position, due to the very important success of the tour, when the Germans evolved from the 22nd minute with one less man on the field, and Nicusor Stanciu wasted a penalty kick for the hosts. Since the defeat in the Czech Republic, Leverkusen has ticked a draw and 7 victories, the last recorded in Gelsenkirchen, 3-0 with Schalke in the Bundesliga.
If the Germans occupy the 2nd place in the internal ranking, one point behind the leader of Bayern, Slavia Prague leads the hierarchy in the first Czech league. Stanciu’s team obtained 26 points in the first 10 stages, is undefeated and has an advance of 5 points compared to the second ranked, rival Sparta Prague. In previous Europa League trips, Slavia Prague won 3-1 at Nice, but lost by the same score to Hapoel Beer Sheva. Instead, Leverkusen defeated at home the French team with 6-2, and the Israelis with a 4-1.
Leverkusen and Slavia Prague each have 9 points in the standings;
Both already qualified for the play-offs, they only play their first position in group C;
In the tour, Slavia Prague won 1-0 at home;
Bayer Leverkusen (4-3-3): Lukas Hradecky; Lars Bender, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Dragovic, Daley Sinkgraven; Florian Wirtz, Julian Baumgartlinger, Nadiem Amiri; Leon Bailey, Patrick Schick, Moussa Diaby.
Slavia Prague (4-5-1): Ondrej Kolar; Luke Masopust, Ondrej Kudela, David Zima, Oscar Dorley; Abdallah Sima, Tomas Holes, Petr Sevcik, Nicolae Stanciu, Peter Olayinka; Jan Kuchta.
PREDICTION: Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 1,62
