45.+3
21:52
Half-time conclusion:
No goals have been scored yet in the second leg of the round of 16 between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Qarabağ FK. The home team got off to a furious start. The Werkself were able to close the ball almost every minute and already had chances to take the lead. Leverkusen had eight shots on goal in the first ten minutes. The guests weren’t even attacking at all, but then the men from Baku gradually became more confident, showed their footballing qualities and posed a threat in moments of transition. The game now became more open. Overall, however, the visual predominance and the clear opportunity advantages speak for the Rhinelanders, who just didn’t know how to take advantage of their opportunities. There’s a pretty exciting thing going on here.
45.+3
21:48
End of 1st half
45.+1
21:48
Now the guests play this through the goalkeeper. Andrey Lunev’s ball gets stuck to Borja Iglesias in his own box. He heads it to Amine Adli, who immediately passes it backwards. From a central position, Florian Wirtz shoots with his right foot onto the right crossbar. But the whistle sounds. Adli was offside when Iglesias headed the ball.
45.
21:45
Official injury time (minutes): 2
44.
21:45
Then the guests get some momentum. Leandro Andrade doesn’t get the whistle for the duel against Odilon Kossounou. So Juninho marches into the box on the right. Matěj Kovář parries his right-footed shot at the near corner.
42.
21:43
We are currently experiencing the weakest phase of the game. There are currently no goal area scenes. Both teams are too hesitant for that. The well-stocked defensive lines don’t get into trouble.
39.
21:41
Qarabağ usually wants to solve this in a playful way from behind. But not every defender is at the visiting team’s level of football. So that doesn’t always seem confident.
37.
21:39
The home team can no longer keep up the pressure. Things calm down again and again. And the guests now also have their phases on a regular basis.
34.
21:36
After a tee shot from Matěj Kovář, Florian Wirtz moves to the right, then has to wait a bit and lifts the ball into the middle. In his own box, Júlio Romão wants to head back to the goalkeeper. But Jeremie Frimpong gets in the way and maneuvers the ball past the goal with his left foot.
32.
21:34
Suddenly the Azerbaijani champions switch gears. Juninho is sent on his journey. Shortly before the penalty area, Robert Andrich can disrupt the game. The Brazilian falls. Referee Anthony Taylor waves the matter through. The VAR check is then carried out in the background with regard to a possible red card for Andrich. But the contact is not strong and clear enough for that.
30.
21:30
Qarabağ has now regained at least some of the game. However, the Werkself are currently in possession of the ball, but are doing so without pace or ideas. This means the opponent doesn’t get into trouble.
28.
21:29
Jonas Hofmann is not going any further, the offensive player has to leave due to injury. Exequiel Palacios is available as a replacement.
28.
21:27
Substitution at Bayer Leverkusen: Exequiel Palacios
28.
21:27
Substitution at Bayer Leverkusen: Jonas Hofmann
27.
21:27
The guests now have a ball in the opponent’s box. Now Yassine Benzia delivers a high cross. Matěj Kovář picks them up without any effort.
25.
21:26
The ball is now rolling again. Jonas Hofmann’s treatment on the sidelines was initially successful, but the national player will try again.
24.
21:25
Jonas Hofmann has problems with his left hip or thigh. Juninho takes the opportunity to change shoes. The game is currently suspended.
22.
21:23
Qarabağ is now playing more courageously. This keeps the opponent busy, who can no longer march forward freely and create a goal threat.
20.
21:22
So the Bundesliga leaders should be fully concentrated and consistent in their work – not just in the game. A carelessly allowed backlog would make matters much more difficult.
18.
21:20
On the other hand, Bayer is a bit sloppy defensively, letting Marko Vešović take his time in the half-right position. The Montenegrin international’s right-footed shot rolls past the box on the left.
17.
21:18
And the hosts appear in the box again and finish in a promising position. But Amine Adli didn’t shoot well enough from around eleven meters. So this is a ball for Andrey Lunev.
15.
21:17
Leverkusen recorded well over 70 percent ball possession and a passing rate of over 90 percent. Even in duels, the Rhinelanders are clearly ahead. The Werkself are the better team in all respects.
13.
21:16
Juninho makes the visitors’ first shot at goal from a distance. With his right foot, the Brazilian shoots past Matěj Kovář’s box on the left.
12.
21:14
Now Qarabağ shows his first offensive efforts and actually crosses the center line clearly. However, the Azerbaijani record champions are nowhere near making it into the penalty area.
10.
21:12
Shortly afterwards, a corner from the left sails into the away penalty area. Once again the Azerbaijanis are not getting this clarified. Ultimately, Amine Adli heads just past the right post.
9.
21:11
Opportunities open up for the home team every minute. Now things are getting really tricky in the penalty area. Ultimately, Piero Hincapié shoots from the right in the goal area. It is blocked by Yassine Benzia. Afterwards there is a VAR check because of an alleged handball in the box. But that is not confirmed.
8.
21:09
Now Jonas Hofmann is found in the middle of the box, secures the ball there and passes it to the right to Borja Iglesias. The striker comes to the end for the fourth time, but shoots too unplaced. This is how Andrey Lunev intervenes for the first time.
6.
21:08
Bayer, on the other hand, regularly finishes. This time Florian Wirtz replaces Borja Iglesias, who tries it half-right on the edge of the penalty area with his right foot for a change. However, nothing changes in the result, the Spaniard does not score the goal. The thing flies over it again.
5.
21:06
Qarabağ shows signs of footballing ability, but still lacks the determination to do anything forward. The Azerbaijanis can’t be seen in the opponent’s half yet.
3.
21:04
The Werkself attack from the left again. Piero Hincapié is now responsible for the high cross. Borja Iglesias climbs up again, but again lacks accuracy. This header is also too high.
2.
21:02
As expected, Bayer immediately took the initiative. And you also get to the sixteenth on the left. Amine Adli delivers a cross in front, which Borja Iglesias heads in. The ball flies clearly over Andrey Lunev’s goal.
1.
21:00
Game start
20:53
Bayer has already played in the Champions League 13 times and even reached the final in 2002. Even one step below, the Werkself are no strangers and made it to the semi-finals last year. And the Rhinelanders actually won the previous competition, the UEFA Cup, in 1988. In the current season, Leverkusen marched through Group H without losing any points. By the way, they already met Qarabağ there. The Bundesliga club won both games, winning 5-1 at the BayArena at the end of October. Today is the fourth competitive game between the two clubs. So they had never met before the current season.
20:46
In the current European Cup season, the Azerbaijanis had the full program, started in the Champions League qualification and failed in the second round. From now on, the qualifying for the Europa League continued. Here they marched through undefeated and reached the group stage for the eighth time in this competition. The club has now gone beyond that for the first time. In addition, they reached the intermediate round of the Conference League in each of the last two seasons. Qarabağ experienced its international highlight with its one-time participation in a group stage of the premier class (2017/2018).
20:38
When it comes to confidently leading the table, the Azerbaijani record champions know their stuff. The club, sometimes also known as Qarabağ Ağdam, has an unimaginable lead of 24 points over second-placed Sumgayit FK in the local Premyer Liqası. Since a double round is played here, ten match days are open. The title is not yet finalized mathematically. But that should just be a formality. They are also cup semi-finalists. The team is currently unbeaten in six competitive games. The last defeat came in the Europa League playoffs at home against Sporting Braga. The 2:3 after extra time was enough to advance after the 4:2 win in the first leg.
20:25
The Bundesliga table leaders were undoubtedly favored after the draw, but struggled in the first leg and only saved their undefeated season after a 2-0 deficit in stoppage time with Patrik Schick’s equalizer. Consequently, a 2:2 represents today’s starting position. A win is necessary to advance. Leverkusen’s impressive series now includes 36 competitive games, of which only five were not won. The Werkself are enjoying three great successes, are ten points ahead in the Bundesliga, and are only two wins away from the title as a semi-finalist in the DFB Cup against completely lower-class opposition. And internationally, it’s not over yet.
20:09
Despite his claims that he wants to get the most out of all competitions, Xabi Alonso is once again making consistent changes, replacing seven players compared to Sunday’s 2-0 home win against Wolfsburg. Instead of keeper Lukáš Hrádecký, Josip Stanišić, Jonathan Tah, Álex Grimaldo, Exequiel Palacios, Patrik Schick and Nathan Tella (all bench), cup goalkeeper Matěj Kovář, Odilon Kossounou, Jeremie Frimpong, Robert Andrich, Jonas Hofmann, Amine Adli and Borja Iglesias are in the Leverkusen starting eleven. With a view to the first leg a week ago, there are five new names. Piero Hincapié, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann replace Jonathan Tah, Álex Grimaldo, Exequiel Palacios, Nathan Tella and Adam Hložek (all bench). On the guests’ side there are two changes compared to last Thursday’s game. Toral Bayramov and Patrick Andrade find themselves on the bench. Elvin Cəfərquliyev and Júlio Romão slide into Qarabağ’s starting lineup.
20:00
Welcome to the Europa League! With the second legs we bring the round of 16 of this competition over the stage. Bayer 04 Leverkusen will face Qarabağ FK. Kick-off is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m.