Full steam ahead towards group victory: Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen also won their third game in the Europa League with their next gala performance. When striker Patrik Schick made a comeback, last year’s semi-finalist effortlessly defeated the Azerbaijani double winner and closest pursuer Qarabag Agdam 5:1 (3:1), underpinning his position as a huge favorite in Group H and already clinching his eleventh win in his twelfth competitive game.
Florian Wirtz (5th), brace Alejandro Grimaldo (29th/54th), Victor Boniface (35th) and Edmond Tapsoba (57th) also set the next impressive club record after the historic league start: they achieved the next impressive club record in each of the twelve games Bayer’s offensive machinery at least two goals.
In two weeks, early group victory awaits in the second leg in Azerbaijan. Tural Bayramov equalized for the guests with a penalty kick (16th).
Successful coach Xabi Alonso, who with his team will welcome the second Europa League participant SC Freiburg in the league on Sunday, changed his starting eleven compared to the win in Wolfsburg (2:1) to six positions. Cup keeper Matej Kovar was once again in goal, while Robert Andrich took over the captain’s armband from Lukas Hradecky.
Grimaldo, who had been performing brilliantly for weeks, remained on the left flank – and impressively underlined his exceptional position. After just 31 seconds, the Spaniard initially took the lead himself, and in the next attack he set up an exemplary set-up for Wirtz.
Bayer Leverkusen sets off fireworks
But instead of improving, Granit Xhaka, who has been flawless so far this season, made a serious mistake. In his own penalty area, Bayer’s midfield leader unnecessarily started dribbling and brought Juninho down, and Bayramov safely converted the undisputed penalty.
Bayer shook themselves briefly – and then set off offensive fireworks. In the spotlight: the congenial duo Wirtz and Grimaldo. The German international scored both 2-1 and 4-1 for Grimaldo. In addition, the outstanding Wirtz also served top scorer Boniface, who gave ex-Leverkusen player Andrey Lunev no chance in the visitors’ goal with an angle shot. Tapsoba put the lid on the ball early after a rebound.
To great applause from the fans in the BayArena, the long-injured Schick came on for Boniface in the 62nd minute 231 days after his last appearance. Xhaka, Wirtz and Tapsoba were also taken off the field early. Grimaldo hit the post with a free kick (79′).