Bayer Leverkusen vs Young Boys 26/02/21

After a seven-goal epic in Switzerland last week, the stakes will be high for Bayer Leverkusen and Young Boys, as they meet at BayArena in the return leg of their UEFA Europa League last-32 tie.

A 4-3 defeat in a seven-goal thriller last week leaves Bayer Leverkusen with plenty of room for maneuver as they look to qualify for the Europa League Round of 16 for the second season running. However, Peter Bosz’s men are currently on a worrying three-game winless run in all competitions (D2, L1) and have only won one of their last seven competitive matches (D2, L4). ‘Die Werkself’ can always rely on their impressive home form in Europe that has seen them win each of their last five Europa League fixtures at BayArena, scoring 14 goals while conceding just three in return over that stretch of games. Additionally, Leverkusen boast a 100% win-record against Swiss opponents at home, having outplayed Sion and FC Zurich in their only previous home meetings with such opposition.

Meanwhile, Young Boys will be looking to defy the recent trend in UEFA competitions that has seen the last four sides that had won the first-leg at home ‘to three’ fail to progress to the next round. A return of eight victories from nine competitive matches (D1) since the calendar flipped to 2021 is handy coming into this matchday, especially given their lackluster away form this Europa League campaign (W1, D1, L1). Yet, a trip to Germany could stir some unpleasant memories, as the Swiss giants have lost their last three visits to the country by an aggregate scoreline of 13-3! Motivation will be high for Young Boys, nonetheless, as they’ve only reached this stage of the competition for the third time in the club’s history, failing to make it to the last-16 in both previous attempts.