Newcastle wins again
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Bayer Leverkusen is in the round of 16 of the Champions League. In the playoff second leg against Olympiakos Piraeus, coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team managed a 0-0 draw to qualify for the round of the best 16 teams after winning 2-0 in the first leg. Either the German record champions FC Bayern Munich or the current Premier League leaders FC Arsenal await in the round of 16.
Hjulmand was back in his senior team after the 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin. Compared to the first leg, Jonas Hofmann moved to the right wing for Ernest Poku. “We shouldn’t give the opponent the opportunity to believe that they can come back. The important thing is: be there, be there, be there,” said Hofmann before his premier class debut this season on “Amazon Prime”.
The Werkself’s double goalscorer from the first leg, Patrik Schick, set an early example. Already in the 4th minute, the Czech’s header after a short corner just missed the post. Two minutes later, after a long pass from Alejandro Grimaldo, he failed to lob over the visiting goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis who had rushed out.
Prompted loudly by the 2,000 visiting fans who had traveled with them and who – as in the first leg in the Greek port city – repeatedly accompanied Bayer’s phases of possession with a concert of whistles, Piraeus started pressing early. Things became dangerous when Aleix Garcia played the ball directly into the opponent’s foot in his own penalty area – but Gelson Martins missed the ball (28th minute).
Bayer 04 found it increasingly difficult to free themselves from their own half and were particularly challenged defensively. With the two-goal lead behind them, the Werkself did not take any unnecessary risks going forward and instead defended closely. Because Piraeus didn’t find any means and didn’t take advantage of the few uncertainties, it remained a game with few chances until the break.
A few minutes into the second half, Gelson Martins tested Bayer keeper Janis Blaswich with a diagonal shot from the second row, but he deflected the ball safely away from the goal (50th). As in the first 45 minutes, the home team tried to remain calm and let the ball circulate, but without seriously getting into the final third.
Grimaldo and Andrich hit the crossbar for Bayer Leverkusen
Meanwhile, Hjulmand had to make a first substitution, replacing Ibrahim Maza with Poku after Maza took a hit. The 20-year-old went straight to the dressing room after being substituted. On the field, Grimaldo created the first chance in the second half, but only hit the crossbar from a tight angle (62nd) – the best opportunity of the game to date.
While the home fans in the Leverkusen stadium, which was sold out with 30,210 spectators, once again encouraged their team with loud chants, Robert Andrich also failed with a header from a corner (76th). The Werkself defense remained stable in front of their own goal and blocked all of the Greek champions’ approaches to goal.
Inter Milan fail at Bodø/Glimt – Newcastle without any problems
Bodö/Glimt surprisingly eliminated last year’s finalists Inter Milan from the Champions League. After winning 3-1 in the first leg, the Norwegian football club also won the playoff second leg at the top Italian club 2-1 (0-0) and is in the round of 16 of the premier class. Bodö/Glimt will face Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City in the round of the best 16 teams. The draw will take place on Friday (12 p.m.) in Nyon (Switzerland).
Inter were superior for a long time, but only had a few good opportunities. The outsider from Norway, on the other hand, was secure in defense and benefited from a bad pass from former Dortmund player Manuel Akanji in the second half: Ole Didrik Blomberg was only denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Ex-Frankfurt player Jens Petter Hauge used the follow-up shot (58th minute) to make it 1-0. Hakon Evjen (72nd) finally decided the match – after an assist from Hauge. The 1:2 by Alessandro Bastoni (76th) was not enough.
Newcastle United’s move into the round of 16 was only a formality after their 6-1 first leg win at Karabakh Agdam. The team around national player Nick Woltemade also won the second leg against the club from Azerbaijan with 3:2 (2:0). In the round of 16, however, the Magpies now have a much tougher challenge in the form of FC Chelsea or FC Barcelona. Sandro Tonali (4th), ex-Hoffenheim player Joelinton (6th) and Sven Botman (52nd) were successful for Newcastle.
