Europa League

Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen are all set to navigate a UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off against AS Monaco at the BayArena on Thursday, ...

With the highly-talented [Florian Wirtz](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/florian-wirtz) fit again following a long-term injury and the likes of [Jeremie Frimpong](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/jeremie-frimpong), Diaby and [Amine Adli](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/amine-adli) high on confidence, the Bundesliga side should make light of the continued absence of injured forward [Patrik Schick](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/patrik-schick). - Monaco goalkeeper Alexander Nübel is on loan at the club from Bayern Munich. The result helped the eight-time French champions up to third spot in the top flight and extended their unbeaten domestic run to eight games. A 3-1 victory at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena brought a two-game losing run to a halt for the Werkself, with [Robert Andrich](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/robert-andrich), [Diaby](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/moussa-diaby) and [Adam Hlozek](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/adam-hlozek) all on target. Monaco continued their solid domestic form with a highly-impressive win against French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend. [Leverkusen](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/clubs/bayer-04-leverkusen) under [Xabi Alonso](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/xabi-alonso-a-bayern-munich-great-real-madrid-liverpool-real-sociedad-spain-4104) but Thursday's first-leg hosts go into their meeting with Monaco with morale high following a [weekend triumph against Hoffenheim](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/matchday/2022-2023/20/tsg-hoffenheim-vs-bayer-04-leverkusen/liveticker).