Bergamo (dpa) – That was advertising for football: After the gripping Europa League duel between Atalanta Bergamo and Bayer Leverkusen, the Rhinelanders still have every chance in the second leg.
The Leverkusen captain and goalkeeper played a big part in that. The highlights of the round of 16 first leg in northern Italy, which Bergamo won 3-2:
Bayer’s best: That was Lukas Hradecky. The keeper made strong saves from numerous Atalanta big chances and, especially after Luis Muriel made it 3-1, prevented them from falling behind. “We can thank Lukas for keeping it 3-1,” said Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane appreciatively.
The starting position: With only one goal behind after the first leg, Leverkusen have good prospects in their own stadium next week. “I see the starting position as good. They’re a team we don’t have to hide from,” said central defender Jonathan Tah. “It’s definitely not over through the game. Of course we would have liked to have had a better result, but it’s not over.” However, the starting position would be even better under the old rules, according to which away goals were worth more than home goals if the difference between the two legs was equal. This rule has been abolished.
Here’s how it goes: The next very special game awaits the Bayer pros on Sunday. For the fans, the derby against 1. FC Köln has traditionally been of enormous importance. Leverkusen, third in the Bundesliga, are favored in the duel. The running-intensive game in Bergamo, which had almost no quieter phases, cost strength. Seoane wasn’t too concerned about that right after the game, though. “We’re used to flying back on Thursday and preparing for the next game within 48 hours,” he said late in the evening, just before he left for the airport with the team. Bayer 04 gave up a 2-0 lead in the first half of the season and drew 2-2 with Cologne.