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Match preview
Will the 1988 UEFA Cup winners or the 2004 Champions League finalists prevail in this Europa League tie?
Bayer Leverkusen won this competition 35 years ago, beating Espanyol in the final, despite losing the first leg in Catalonia 3-0.
Since reaching the Champions League Final of 2002, die Werkself have enjoyed little success on the continent, getting no further than a few quarter-final appearances.
This season, Leverkusen won just once in the Champions League group stages, beating Atlético Madrid at home, but this was enough to see them finish above Atleti in third.
Meanwhile, having won six of their last eight in the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso’s side have climbed up to eighth, three points below the potential European spots.
Nevertheless, given Bayer’s lowly position, do Monaco come into this tie as favourites?
Wissam Ben Yedder with a brace at Stade Louis-II.
Meanwhile, in the Europa League, Philippe Clement’s team were pipped to top spot by Ferencváros on head-to-head, with two of their three wins coming against Crvena zvezda.
Monaco have only won one of their last five visits to Germany, although this was a 1-0 victory in Leverkusen nine years ago.
Will there be a winner in this first leg at BayArena?
Bayer Leverkusen team news
Star striker Patrik Schick and key midfielder Charles Aránguiz are both out with long-term injuries.
Left-wing-back Daley Sinkgraven was taken off injured in Saturday’s win at Hoffenheim, meaning Mitchel Bakker could come in.
19 year old Florian Wirtz will lead the line, seeking his first goal of the season, having returned from a cruciate ligament rupture on 22 January.
Monaco team news
Wissam Ben Yedder remain Monaco’s talisman, taking his tally to 19 for the season by scoring twice against PSG at the weekend.
Fellow striker Kevin Volland was back on the bench in that game.
He hasn’t started since before the World Cup, due to a rib injury, but scored a hat-trick in Monaco’s last European game against Red Star Belgrade.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco: Head to head statistics
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