Leverkusen through to last 16 with Schick goal
And then Patrik Schick scored: Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are also in a class of their own in Europe this season and are now the best team in the Europa League.
With a 2:0 (1:0) win at Swedish cup winners BK Häcken, coach Xabi Alonso's team, who made eight changes to their "B" team, also secured group victory ahead of time. This secures direct entry into the round of 16 without having to go through the play-offs against a team relegated from the Champions League.
The goal scored by Patrik Schick, who scored his first goal in 284 days after a long period of suffering, was a particularly wonderful moment (74'). Victor Boniface had opened the scoring (14). Bayer are now the only team among the 32 participants to have won all five group matches. In addition, last year's semi-finalists celebrated five consecutive European Cup victories for the first time in almost 30 years. The win was the 18th in the 19th competitive match of the season. Sunday's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund is a landmark home game. The runners-up are currently ten points behind the Werkself.
Bayer seize first chance to take the lead
Although the pitch had to be cleared on Wednesday evening after heavy snowfall, the match was not in doubt. It wasn't snowing at kick-off at two degrees below zero. At the break, the first flakes fell again in the venerable Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg, and the pitch became increasingly slippery as the game progressed. The Swedes, whose season has been over since November 12, started boldly and pressed early despite four previous defeats and the sobering 4-0 loss in the first leg.
Bayer nevertheless had the game under control with over 60 percent possession and made the most of their first chance. After a cross from Bayern loanee Josip Stanisic, Boniface headed in from four meters out at the far post. The Nigerian, who was top scorer in the Europa League in the previous season in a Saint-Gilles shirt, has not scored in the Bundesliga for five games or 449 minutes. He has now scored in four out of five games in his favorite competition.
However, the Bundesliga club did not shine at all in the following game, only had one more chance before the break through Nathan Tella (22') and almost conceded an equalizer (34') after Matej Kovar, who replaced regular keeper Lukas Hradecky in the European Cup as in every game before. "We're playing seriously, but the Swedes are also doing well," said club boss Fernando Carro during the break on RTL.
Alonso continued to hand out match practice. He brought on 18-year-old Noah Mbamba for Boniface at the break and Schick in the 63rd minute, who again made the difference eleven minutes later following an assist from Stanisic.
Source: www.dpa.com
