Team news and predicted lineups

Here is our preview, including predicted line-ups, for Thursday’s Europa League round of 16 first leg clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros.

Fresh from a confidence-boosting 4-1 win over Hertha BSC, Bayer Leverkusen welcome Hungarian champions Ferencvaros to the BayArena on Thursday evening.

Sitting ninth in the Bundesliga, ‘Die Werkself’ have had an unpredictable season, but are coming off the back of three good performances.

After a disappointing 2-3 home defeat to Mainz, Xabi Alonso’s men bounced back with an impressive comeback win over Monaco in the Europa League, before drawing 1-1 away to Freiburg and thrashing Hertha.

Meanwhile, Ferencvaros are top of the Hungarian league and look set to win their fifth consecutive domestic title.

After a 1-1 draw with Mezokovesd-Zsory last week, the Hungarian champions have now gone 11 league games without defeat. In the Europa League, Ferencvaros reached the last 16 after topping Group H in front of Monaco.

On the injury front, Jeremie Frimpong was forced off against Hertha after picking up a knock, but could be fit enough to feature after head coach Xabi Alonso played down the severity of the injury.

Andrey Lunev and Charles Aranguiz remain out for ‘Die Werkself’, while Robert Andrich and Exequiel Palacios are both suspended.

Ferencvaros will be without Muhamed Besic and Owusu Kwabena.

Click here to see our predicted lineups for the game.

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