Status: 09.11.2023, 20:52 PM
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Julio Romao (M) of Karabakh against Amine Adli (21, 2nd from left) of Bayer Leverkusen. © Aziz Karimov/AP/dpa
Bayer Leverkusen did not lose their 16th competitive game of the season. At FK Karabakh Agdam, the Rhinelanders do not play as well as recently and secure the victory only very late.
Baku - Bayer Leverkusen continued their winning streak in the Europa League and secured their place on matchday four. The Bundesliga leaders, coached by Xabi Alonso, won 1-0 (0-0) at FK Karabakh Agdam on Thursday thanks to a handball penalty in the fourth minute of injury time. Victor Boniface converted confidently in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. After four of six group games, Leverkusen, who have yet to lose a competitive game this season, have twelve points.
Alonso opted for rotation in his starting eleven. Compared to the 3-2 win at TSG Hoffenheim last Saturday, the Spaniard made six changes. Among others, goalkeeper Matej Kovar and midfielder Robert Andrich moved into the team.
And Bayer didn't get off to a good start. It took until the 23rd minute for the Werkself to get in front of Karabakh Agdam's goal for the first time. After a corner by Alejandro Grimaldo, who has been so strong so far this season, Piero Hincapié was denied by ex-Leverkusen keeper Andrej Lunev in the hosts' goal.
The underdogs, who had gone down 1-5 in the first leg, kept the game open. Karabakh Agdam quickly outplayed the midfield again and again and thus got to the Bayer penalty area. However, the hosts were not really dangerous at first. It was only after a misunderstanding between Hincapié and Kovar that things got dicey. Bayer's stand-in keeper, who replaces captain Lukas Hradecky in international matches, had no problems with a shot from Juninho.
After the change of ends, Leverkusen initially took more control. Bayer 04 had more possession of the ball and let the ball run well through midfield from time to time. However, the visitors rarely got into the penalty area. In the 66th minute, it became dangerous through centre-forward Victor Boniface, but Lunew reacted well and saved.
At the other end, Juninho hit his own captain Abdellah Zoubir in a promising position instead of into the goal. Yassine Benzia also failed to aim accurately enough for the hosts, who were cheered on by frenetic fans. Leverkusen didn't really come up with much offensively in the closing stages. The penalty then brought the chance to win, which Boniface did not miss. Dpa