Bayer Leverkusen vs Ferencvaros

Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros will lock horns in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at the BayArena.

After dropping out of the Champions League group stages, Bayer Leverkusen squeezed past Monaco in the Europa League knockout playoffs via penalties, with each leg won by the visiting side on the day by the same 3-2 scoreline. ‘Die Werkself’ have racked up three wins in their four European clashes against Hungarian opposition, but ominously the only loss in that span came to non-other than Ferencvaros in 2021. It gets worse for Xabi Alonso’s charges, as they’ve failed to win any of their last three home outings in Europe (D1, L2). Indeed, the BayArena hasn’t been Leverkusen’s safe shelter of late by any stretch of the imagination, with the Germans losing three consecutive home games before a 4-1 thumping of Bundesliga relegation fighters Hertha Berlin last time out.

In the meantime, Ferencvaros finished top of Europa League Group H despite delivering a mixed bag of performances (W3, D1, L2), as goal difference alone helped them edge second-placed Monaco. The Hungarians have gone from strength to strength since the calendar year flipped to 2023, racking up four wins and as many draws in eight competitive matches, five of which featured under 2.5 goals. Worryingly for the visitors, they’ve suffered eight defeats on their nine previous European trips to face German opposition (D1), including losses in their last six visits to the country. Speaking of Ferencvaros’ travel sickness, they’ve managed just one triumph in their last five away matches in major European competitions (D1, L3).