It’s the best Bayer Leverkusen news West Ham could possibly hope for as hangover hopes rise ahead of the second leg.
A 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham has rounded off an awful week in West Ham’s season.
First the Hammers lost top scorer Jarrod Bowen to injury in last week’s win at Wolves.
That saw him miss the crucial Europa League quarter-final first leg at Bayer Leverkusen.
David Moyes also went into that game without Edson Alvarez and opted for an ultra defensive counter attack approach despite the fact Leverkusen have only conceded one goal on the break all season long.
Despite a staunch defensive effort for the most part, West Ham were still beaten 2-0.
The Hammers also lost both Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri to suspension for the second leg.
During the defeat to Fulham West Ham have also lost Konstantinos Mavropanos to injury.
West Ham have a mountain to climb in second leg
With doubts over Bowen’s availability for the second leg too, West Ham have a mountain to climb at the London Stadium on Thursday night.
Leverkusen star Granit Xhaka has made it clear the tie is not over and warned his teammates it will be difficult at West Ham.
Realistically West Ham’s biggest hope for the second leg was a good old fashioned hangover.
West Ham certainly had a one from the first leg when they welcomed Fulham to east London.
And now Moyes and his team will be hoping to feel the benefits of such a situation.
It’s the best Bayer Leverkusen news West Ham could possibly hope for as hangover hopes rise.
Bayer hangover hopes rise for Hammers after title triumph
West Ham may be daunted by the scoreline coming out of Germany this evening.
Because Xabi Alonso’s side made it 43 games unbeaten in all competitions this season as they smashed Werder Bremen 5-0 as West Ham lost to Fulham.
Brilliant Florian Wirtz scored a hat-trick while Victor Boniface and Xhaka got the others.
That win saw Leverkusen crowned German champions for the first time in the club’s history.
But it keeps West Ham’s only hope for the second leg is very much alive – the hangover.
Alonso’s side will be celebrating their Bundesliga title make no bones about that.
Fans flooded the pitch to celebrate with Alonso, his player at the BayArena. It would have consumed a lot of energy and the release of adrenaline could seriously help West Ham bridge the gap.
If Bowen is back and Hammers attack then who knows
Had Bayer failed to win, that drive and focus would have remained. But now they may just take their foot off the gas a touch.
Any pressure they might have been feeling to ensure their remarkable season was rewarded with silverware will be lifted.
West Ham will now be hoping they face a side nursing a hangover who have maybe – just maybe – lost that ounce of hunger and desire after getting the title over the line.
It may be clutching at straws. But that is the position West Ham find themselves in.
We must keep everything crossed that the Hammers get Bowen back for the game.
Then if there is even the slightest hint of Leverkusen being even half a yard off their usual game West Ham MUST be ready to take advantage.