Bayer 04 storms to a perfect preliminary round with plenty of goals
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is the only team in the current European Cup season to complete a perfect group stage: six wins in six games. In the preliminary round final, the Bundesliga leaders once again celebrated many goals.
Bayer Leverkusen completed the first perfect preliminary round for a club in three years in the Europa League with a goal festival by a B team. Crowned by a goal from top scorer Patrik Schick on his return to the starting eleven after 408 days, the Bundesliga leaders celebrated their sixth win in six matches with a 5:1 (3:0) victory over Norwegian cup winners Molde FK to close out the group.
Only ten teams had previously achieved the optimum haul of 18 points in the preliminary round, most recently Arsenal FC in 2020 and Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018, the only German club to do so. A bad omen, however, for the ambitious Leverkusen side, who have 20 wins and two draws after 22 competitive matches this season: None of their predecessors ended up winning the title.
In an unglamorous group, however, Leverkusen's yield is remarkable because coach Xabi Alonso always rotated his squad. Against Molde, he even changed his team in nine positions compared to the 1:1 in the Bundesliga. Schick (6th), Edmond Tapsoba (22nd) and Adam Hlozek with a double strike (60th/71st) scored the goals, while Molde's Martin Ellingsen (25th) scored an own goal. Ken Izekor also became the youngest Leverkusen player ever to appear in a competitive match when he came on as a substitute in the 77th minute at the age of 16 years and 204 days. Eric Kitolano (76) scored for Molde, who will continue in the Conference League as third in their group. Alonso had left only central defenders Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba in the team. As a result, Schick was joined by a player who had to wait even longer. Niklas Lomb, actually the third goalkeeper, was allowed to play in a competitive match for the first time in three years. He had last played in goal on February 25, 2021, also in the Europa League against Young Boys Bern.
The large rotation did nothing to change Bayern's expected clear dominance. When Schick scored with a left-footed shot from 18 meters, Lomb had not yet touched the ball. And when Tapsoba headed home from seven meters after a cross from Jonas Hofmann and the Norwegians also scored a curious own goal when Anders Hagelskjaer shot Ellingsen in the face, the game was virtually decided. The scene in the 44th minute was emblematic of the fact that the victory could have been significantly higher, when first a shot from Nathan Tella was cleared off the line, then Schick hit the post and finally Hlozek missed from three meters. The Czech then scored after the break - twice.
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Uefa recognizes Bayer 04 Leverkusen's exceptional performance in the Europa League, as they become only the third team in three years to complete a perfect preliminary round with six wins. Bayer 04 Leverkusen's success in the Europa League could give them a strong advantage in the knockout stages, given their form in Soccer, particularly with top scorer Patrik Schick leading the charge.
Source: www.ntv.de
