Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal - Boss expecting strong Leverkusen showing against Villarreal

Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2016 by PA

Bayer Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt says his side have a never-say-die attitude which they are set to impose on Villarreal on Thursday night.

The two sides meet in the last-16 of the Europa League with the Spaniards leading 2-0 from the first leg a week ago.

They will be favourites to reach the quarter-finals, but Schmidt has warned against writing his team off.

"We are a team who never give up," he said, referring to how they overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Lazio in the Champions League play-off in August.

"We have not been knocked out yet, and particularly at home we are capable of pulling off something extraordinary.

"I'm expecting a good game, and it's going to have to be an absolutely top performance."

Although midfielder and set-piece specialist Hakan Calhanoglu seems set to miss out due to injury, optimism reigns through the Leverkusen camp.

"It's going to be hard, but I'm convinced we're capable of turning it around," said forward Stefan Kiessling, who has eight Europa League goals to his name, but has yet to score in this year's competition.

Julian Brandt sounded even more optimistic when he told Der Westen newspaper: "If anybody can do it, then we can."

And Villarreal are heeding the warning.

"We know all about Bayer's potential," said midfielder Samuel Castillejo on Wednesday, reports El Periodico Mediterraneo.

"We travel there with the clear aim of knocking them out. We're going to try to score as much as we can, because it will be very difficult for them then to score four."

The only doubt Villarreal coach Marcelino has is who to play in goal, with Alphonse Areola making the trip despite having a knee ligament problem.

Sergio Asenjo is on standby to deputise for him, and make his European debut for the Yellow Submarine this season.