Florian Wirtz again and again: Led by his exceptional cloister, Bayer Leverkusen has transformed the first round of 16 final match ball on Europe’s largest football stage.
The double winner claimed his place in the top eight against Sparta Prague by the sovereign 2-0 (1-0) and thus reached the round of the last 16 teams of the Champions League for the first time in eight years.
Thanks to the goals from Wirtz (32nd) and Nathan Tella (64th), the patient but highly superior Werkelf prevailed against the Czech champion that had already been left and saved the unpopular extra round over the playoffs. In the round of 16, after an international breather it continues away (March 4/5), in the second leg (March 11/12) Xabi Alonso’s team has home right.
In view of the good starting point, the Bayer coach did not want to spread a hustle and bustle, by no means his team should be on battling for progress. “If you are in a hurry, it is sometimes not good,” warned Alonso, who waived his attacker Victor Boniface due to the possibly upcoming change to Saudi Arabia.
Did that also matter to his team? Despite the latest damper in the master fight in Leipzig (2-2), Leverkusen started furiously and came through Granit Xhaka (3rd), Jonathan Tah (9th) and Patrik Schick (11th), who met his youth club Degrees. Only after the wild start, Bayer switched from attack to the control mode.
The Werkself remained dangerous in the three previous royal class home games without conceding a goal. A Schlenzer from Wirtz was a bit too unplaced (25th), the referee took back a penalty because Jaroslav Zeleny had only got an attempt by Edmond Tapsoba (30th).
Bayer Leverkusen remains confident
Bayer remained cool, especially Wirtz, who made a counterattack on the fast Jeremie Frimpong ice cold to deserved leadership. An even more comfortable lead of the Leverkuseners, who receded after the draw in Leipzig with five starting eleven changes, did not jump out before the change of sides, despite further opportunities.
This is also why Bayer remained active in the second round. Wirtz always had his feet in the game when Leverkusen constricted the harmless guests and pressed the redeeming second goal. However, it was time for the Rhineland to achieve further top -class opportunities in front of 30,210 fans in the sold -out Bayarena.
Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl then fought forward a dangerous free kick from Alejandro Grimaldo, who had just completed too unplaced (60th) (60th), Tella dusted dry. Wirtz narrowly missed the third goal (68th). Bayer kept control in the final phase.