Moussa Diaby, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick should provide the firepower for Bayer Leverkusen to overcome Celtic in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Schick and Wirtz
Wirtz may only be 18 years old, but he has already established himself as one of Leverkusen’s most important players, and became the youngest man ever to reach double figures for Bundesliga goals with his strike against Mainz. In six competitive appearances this season, Wirtz has contributed five goals and four assists. The goalscoring burden does not rest on his young shoulders alone, however. Czech Republic international striker Schick followed up an impressive debut season at the BayArena by starring for his country at UEFA Euro 2020. Schick scored both goals, including the Goal of the Tournament winner, as the Czechs beat Scotland 2-0 in their opening match at Hampden Park. This season, he’s already struck four times in eight outings for Leverkusen.
The creativity for Leverkusen’s players
Wirtz isn’t the only young player catching eyes for Leverkusen this season. Jeremie Frimpong made 51 appearances in all competitions for Celtic, before moving to Leverkusen in January. The 20-year-old right-back has played every minute of the Bundesliga and Europa League campaigns for Bayer, and has two assists to his name in both competitions, setting up both goals in Bayer’s 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros. Having won the Scottish domestic treble across 51 games with Celtic, Frimpong’s teammates will be looking to him for ways to get the inside track against the men in green and white. Celtic made some shrewd transfers in the summer to strengthen their side. Additions like former England international goalkeeper Joe Hart were intended to beef up their defensive capabilities, and – at the other end – attacking reinforcements were led by Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi. The game between these teams would be so interesting. Bayer Leverkusen is ready to dominate Celtic.