Champions League
Leverkusen confidently – debacle for the runner -up
Updated on January 30, 2025 – 01:02 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
The Werkself is the only German team directly in the round of round of 16 of the premier class. RB Leipzig, on the other hand, once again experiences a disappointment. And two big clubs still create the turn.
Bayer Leverkusen has reached the first stage destination in the Champions League and confidently qualified prematurely for the round of 16. The German soccer champion won 2-0 (1-0) against Sparta Prague on Wednesday evening and won all four possible home wins in the ongoing competition.
With this, the Leverkuseners defended their place among the best eight teams and qualified with 16 points as the sixth of the league phase directly for the KO round. There, the German champion meets depending on the draw and the results in the playoffs either to FC Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City or Celtic Glasgow.
“Goal number one achieved,” said Granit Xhaka at DAZN. “We played a great group phase in the Champions League.” In front of 30,210 spectators in the BayArena, Florian Wirtz (32nd minute) and Natha Tella (64th) scored the goals for the hosts, who were able to play an important point threesome after two games without a win. “Today it was really a sovereign victory,” said Xhaka.
Out without applause: RB Leipzig has also lost the last Champions League game this season and ends the premier class with just one win in eight games. At the Austrian champion Sturm Graz, the Saxons in Klagenfurt lost 0: 1 (0: 1). Arjan Malic scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute. Despite numerous good chances, RB did not make the balance.
Manchester City has just averted an early Champions League out, and defending champion Real Madrid also has to go to the playoffs. After deficiency, City won 3: 1 (0: 1) against FC Bruges.
City initially struggled against the Belgians and fell behind through Raphael Onyedika (45th minute). Ultimately, Mateo Kovačić (53.), an own goal of Joel Ordoñez (62nd) and Savinho (77th), made the game and at least secured the team of coach Pep Guardiola in the playoffs.
From the beginning, the defending champion from Madrid, who won in France (56.) in France, was significantly more confident from the start of the defending champion from Madrid, who won thanks to the goals of Rodrygo (27/78.) And Jude Bellingham (56.). Shortly after the break, Real was lucky because the interim equalizer of the former Bundesliga striker Ludovic Ajorque was withdrawn after viewing the video images.
In contrast, Aston Villa (4: 2 (2: 2) against Celtic Glasgow) and the OSC Lille (6: 1 (2: 1) against Feyenoord Rotterdam), which qualify somewhat directly for the round of 16, must not go into the playoffs. Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid also made it among the first eight teams. Inter prevailed 3-0 (2-0) against AS Monaco, Atlético also had no problems with the loose 4: 1 (3: 0) at FC Salzburg.
VfB Stuttgart missed the play-offs of the Champions League against a highly superior Paris Saint-Germain. The runner-up was defeated by the Top Club with triple scorer Ousmane Dembelé on the last matchday of the league with 1: 4 (0: 3) and did not make the jump under the top 24.
Bradley Barcola (6th) and the outstanding ex-Dortmund Dembelé (17th, 35th, 54th) met for free French for the first half, VfB benefited only from a late own goal by Willian Pacho (77.). Despite all the efforts, Stuttgart never really found access to the French ball artists, who are now on 11/12. and 18./19. February fight for the round of 16.
“Of course we are all disappointed,” said coach Sebastian Hoeneß at DAZN: “We hoped that we will achieve more today. But I’m proud of the boys. Today we saw what the world tip is, you have to acknowledge that without envy. “