Prediction: Molde vs Bayer Leverkusen

Verdict: Bayer Leverkusen win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Looking to make it back-to-back Europa League victories on Thursday night, Bayer Leverkusen will travel over to Norway when they meet Molde.

Molde

Starting with the hosts, while Molde might have largely impressed since returning from September’s international break, the reigning Norwegian champions have struggled with their consistency this season. Needing a minor miracle in their bid to retain their Eliteserien crown this year, Erling Moe’s men also opened their Europa League adventure with a toothless performance on September 21st. Getting proceedings underway with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Qarabag, MFK will be more than aware that they face a stern examination on Thursday night. However, picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they cruised their way to a 4-0 romp against Viking, Moe’s side will be excited by their rugged Europa League record on home soil. In fact, aside from a routine 3-0 loss against Premier League giants Arsenal back in November 2020, that is the only Europa League defeat that Molde have suffered at the Aker Stadion from their previous 14 straight showdowns.

Team News

Still dealing with respective injury issues, Molde have confirmed that they will once again be unable to call upon the duo of Martin Linnes and Erling Knudtzon on Thursday night.

Bagging a first-half brace against Viking over the weekend and now notching five goals in his previous six appearances, one-time Seattle Sounders forward Magnus Wolff Eikrem will spearhead Molde’s chare here.

Bayer Leverkusen

As for the visitors, putting in yet another rampant performance over the weekend as they claimed a thumping 3-0 win away at Mainz, Bayer Leverkusen are certainly riding a major wave of momentum. Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits under Xabi Alonso, the German giants have their sights firmly set on mounting a genuine Europa League charge this season. Flying out of the traps since opening the 2023/24 campaign and battling it out at the top of the Bundesliga table, the one-time Real Madrid midfielder should find the mood in his camp at a red-hot high. Opening their Europa League adventure with a 4-0 victory against Swedish outfit Hacken on September 21st, Leverkusen will arrive in Norway looking to make another statement on Thursday night. Yet to taste a single defeat across any competition since opening the new campaign and really gaining a reputation for their clinical performances in the final third, Alonso’s men are certainly one to watch this season.

Team News

Still yet to make a single appearance this season, Bayer Leverkusen will once again be unable to call upon attacking talisman Patrik Schick on Thursday night. Likewise, Alonso’s squad will also be without the trio of Noah Mbamba, Arthur and one-time Manchester United starlet Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Once again finding the net against Mainz over the weekend and notching three goals in as many appearances across all competitions, former Borussia Dortmund star Jonas Hofmann will join the red-hot Victor Boniface in the final third.

Key Factors to Consider

• Along with opening their Europa League adventure with a 4-0 victory against Hacken last month, Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in each of their eight appearances across all formats this season.
• One-time Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jonas Hofmann has found the net in each of his previous three appearances.
• Leverkusen have notched over 1.5 goals in each of their appearances since opening up the 2023/24 campaign.
• Molde have suffered just a single Europa League defeat at the Aker Stadion from their previous 14 straight showdowns.
• Each of Molde’s last three appearances on home soil have proceeded 14 strikes at both ends of the pitch.

Conclusion

Getting their Europa League adventure underway with a routine 4-0 romp against Hacken a fortnight ago, Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to lay down another Group H marker. In the midst of a stellar run of form since opening up the new campaign and continuing to shine under Alonso, Thursday’s guests will arrive in Norway tipped as a genuine European contender this season. Gaining a reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third, Molde will be bracing themselves for a stern examination here. While the midweek hosts might have lost just one of their previous 14 Europa League contests at the Aker Stadion, we are backing what could be an enjoyable away victory in midweek.

Verdict: Bayer Leverkusen win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Dachbet