Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso almost completely changed his squad before the second leg of the Europa League play-off at AS Monaco compared to the last Bundesliga game.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso almost completely changed his squad before the second leg of the Europa League play-off at AS Monaco compared to the last Bundesliga game.
After making six changes in the 2-3 win against FSV Mainz 05 last Sunday, almost the same eleven will be back in the Principality on Thursday as they were in the 2-3 win in the first leg a week ago. The only change is the inclusion of Frenchman Amine Adli for Nadiem Amiri.
Mitchell Bakker also replaces Moussa Diaby, who was not a starting XI due to a muscle injury sustained in the first leg. The Frenchman is in the squad, but in the Europa League all players are allowed on the bench. Whether he is really ready for action is an open question.
Striker Patrik Schick, who scored his first goal in almost six months after coming on as a substitute, is also not yet ready to start. National player Florian Wirtz is back in the starting XI after his breather in view of the full calendar since his return after a cruciate ligament rupture.
As in the first leg, goalkeeper Alexander Nübel is the only one of three Germans to start at Monaco. In addition to ex-Cologne Ismail Jakobs and long-time Leverkusen player Kevin Volland, who was not substituted on in the first leg, former Schalke and Mönchengladbacher Breel Embolo is also sitting outside this time.
Source: Stern
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