Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Ferencvaros and Bayer Leverkusen, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Ferencvaros will be aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit when they take on Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.
The Germans won 2-0 at BayArena last week, leaving the Hungarian champions with an almighty task in the second leg.
Match preview
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Having performed above expectations to finish first in Group H, Ferencvaros' first European knockout tie of the modern era did not go entirely to plan in Leverkusen last week.
Kerem Demirbay's ninth-minute opener almost immediately meant that Stanislav Cherchesov's were chasing the tie from the outset, although they were only four minutes of normal time away from ensuring that their defeat was only a marginal one before Edmond Tapsoba's late strike put the Germans firmly in the box seat.
However, Ferencvaros Stadion is set to provide a raucous atmosphere as the home fans attempt to help their team reach the last eight of any European competition since they were defeated 3-0 by Dynamo Kiev in the 1974-75 European Cup Winners' Cup final.
Despite losing 2-1 at home to Puskas Academy at the weekend, the Green Eagles still retain an 11-point lead at the top of the Hungarian top-flight, undoubtedly making Thursday's tie the defining match of their season.
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Likewise, albeit for different reasons, whether Leverkusen's season is determined as a success or not will largely hinge on the extent of their progression in the Europa League.
Having endured a disastrous start to the campaign prior to Xabi Alonso's appointment in early October, Die Werkself are serious outsiders to qualify for Europe via a league finish this season, although two straight victories have moved them six points behind sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
In terms of competing in next season's Champions League, though, winning the Europa League looks to be the only realistic way into Europe's elite competition for Alonso and his players. The Spaniard will be confident of protecting their two-goal lead in Hungary on Thursday, but he will be making his team fully aware of the hostile atmosphere which they are likely to have to overcome.
Thankfully for the visitors, though, football is mostly dictated by events on the pitch, and there is little doubt that they have the more talented group of players in order to advance to the last eight of a European competition for only the second time within the last 15 years.
Ferencvaros Europa League form:
- W
- L
- W
- D
- L
- L
Bayer Leverkusen Europa League form:
- L
- W
- W
Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):
- L
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
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Ferencvaros will be without Endre Botka after the defender's yellow card in Leverkusen last week earned him a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of bookings, with Henry Wingo set to replace the Hungary international at right-back.
Former Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic remains sidelined by a long-term knee injury, but Tokmac Chol Nguen could be fit to return to the hosts' attack, as they desperately look to score at least two goals to overturn the tie.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will travel without Andrey Lunev and Charles Aranguiz due to existing back and calf problems respectively, while Karim Bellarabi and Patrik Schick are both doubts having missed their side's trip to Werder Bremen on Sunday.
Alonso is likely to recall Sardar Azmoun and last week's goalscorers Demirbay and Tapsoba to his starting XI, after the trio were left on the bench for the crucial 3-2 victory in the Bundesliga at the weekend.
Ferencvaros possible starting lineup:
Dibusz; Wingo, Abena, Knoester, Civic; Zachariassen, Esiti; Traore, Marquinhos, Nguen; Mmaee
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Frimpong, Demirbay, Andrich, Bakker; Diaby, Amiri; Azmoun
We say: Ferencvaros 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
While Ferencvaros should not be written off from carrying out an impressive turnaround with home advantage on their side, we expect Leverkusen to progress on Thursday.
Alonso has hugely improved the club's fortunes since replacing Gerardo Seoane earlier this season, and they undoubtedly have the pace and quality to punish the hosts in transition should they push for a goal too early on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data
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