Soccer - Leverkusen complete perfect group stage
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 games 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.
Information on the match at uefa.com (in German)
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- Despite their dominance, Bayer Leverkusen's perfect group stage performance in the Europa League may not translate into a title win, as only ten teams before them had achieved a perfect 18 points in the preliminary round with no winners going on to claim the title.
- Patrik Schick returned to the starting eleven for Bayer Leverkusen after 408 days, scoring the final goal in their 5-1 victory over Molde FK, securing the club's first perfect preliminary round in three years.
- The German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen, now led by Xabi Alonso, demonstrated remarkable resilience in their unglamorous group, with ten changes in their starting lineup from their Bundesliga match against Molde.
- In an unexpected turn of events, third-choice goalkeeper Niklas Lomb made his competitive debut for Bayer Leverkusen three years after his last appearance in the Europa League against Young Boys Bern.
- The Norwegian cup winners Molde FK, finishing third in their group, will continue their Europa League journey in the Conference League, leaving Bayer Leverkusen to advance to the group stage with plans to challenge for the Europe League title.
- In the compulsory group stage game, Bayer Leverkusen faced strong opposition from Molde, with Xabi Alonso rotating his squad extensively, leading to nine changes in the starting eleven compared to their Bundesliga match.
- The German city of Leverkusen, located in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia, is home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who have had a successful soccer season, with a total of 22 competitive matches yielding 20 wins and two draws.
- Ex-Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has managed to lead Bayer Leverkusen to a remarkable run in the Europa League, with top scorer Patrik Schick and other young talents contributing to their perfect preliminary round performance.
- Patrik Schick grew up in Norway, where he played for Molde FK before joining FC Krasnodar, and his return to Norway to compete against his former club proved to be a significant moment as he crowned Bayer Leverkusen's dominant performance in the preliminary round of the Europa League.
Source: www.stern.de
