Leverkusen Face Tricky Europa League Test As Rolfes Warns Against Underestimating Lech Poznan

Bayer Leverkusen will look to continue their winning momentum when they travel to Poland to face Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Carles Martínez's side arrives following consecutive Bundesliga victories over RB Leipzig and Mainz, but sporting director Simon Rolfes has warned that the Polish champions could present a difficult challenge despite their heavy defeat in their previous European outing.

Die Werkself face Lech at 18:45 CEST in their second Europa League league-phase fixture, with the match offering another opportunity to build momentum during a demanding October schedule.

Speaking before the team's departure from Cologne-Bonn Airport on Wednesday, Rolfes stressed that the opposition's recent results should not create a false sense of security.

Rolfes Expects A Difficult Night In Poland

Lech Poznan suffered a 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in their previous European match, but Rolfes believes the scoreline did not fully reflect their performance.

He highlighted the chances Lech created and warned that the Polish side will approach Thursday's encounter with confidence, particularly in front of their own supporters.

The sporting director expects Lech to challenge Leverkusen through their combination play and attacking approach.

For Martínez, the defensive warning is particularly relevant.

Although Bayer defeated Mainz 4-3 on Saturday, they conceded three goals after twice establishing a two-goal advantage.

The performance demonstrated their attacking quality but also exposed vulnerabilities that Lech could attempt to exploit.

Europa League Offers A Different Opportunity

Rolfes also explained why Leverkusen's return to the Europa League could benefit the squad's development.

Unlike their previous Champions League campaign, the club expect to distribute playing time more widely across the squad.

That approach could provide valuable experience for younger players and those still working towards their best form.

However, he also made clear that Leverkusen views the Europa League as a genuine opportunity to compete for silverware.

The club enters the competition with different expectations from those they faced in the Champions League, and Rolfes believes the autumn fixtures will establish the foundations for a successful European campaign.

That makes Thursday's match important beyond the immediate three points.

Martínez Must Manage Injuries And A Busy Schedule

Leverkusen's preparations have been complicated by injuries to several attacking players.

Eliesse Ben Seghir will definitely miss the trip to Poland after suffering a minor muscle injury.

Rolfes confirmed that the problem is not serious but declined to provide a precise return date, stressing the importance of allowing the Moroccan to recover fully.

The sporting director also defended Ben Seghir's professionalism, explaining that the youngster has worked intensely in recent weeks and may need to learn when to reduce his workload.

Christian Kofane is another attacking option unavailable through injury.

Those absences could create opportunities for other members of Martínez's squad, particularly with Die Werkself facing a packed domestic and European schedule.

The challenge will be maintaining their attacking momentum while improving the defensive organisation that was missing at times against Mainz.

For the club, the Europa League represents both a chance to develop the squad and an opportunity to compete for another European trophy.

Thursday's trip to Poznan will provide an early indication of how seriously they can pursue both objectives.

From here the stage only gets bigger.