Champions League: Leverkusen saved chance to the knockout stages

Bundesliga

Liveticker | Schedule | table

Bayer Leverkusen draws a little hope in the fight for the knockout round in the Champions League. The team of Peter Bosz won the return leg against Atlético Madrid 2: 1 (1: 0) and thus took the first three points in the current season of the premier class. Leverkusen benefited from an own goal by the Madrid side Thomas Partey (41 minutes), Kevin Volland put the 2: 0 (55.). Álvaro Morata made the late connection (90 + 4).

Juventus, who won 2-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow, are the first in Group D with ten points in the last sixteen. Madrid are second with seven points ahead of Moscow (3 points) and Leverkusen (3). If Atlético win one of their two remaining matches against Juve or Moscow, the Spaniards are in the round of 16 - no matter how many points Leverkusen draws from their games against Moscow and Turin. It is more likely that Leverkusen will duel with Moscow for third place, which qualifies for the knockout phase of the Europa League.

Atlético began as usual compact on the defensive and left Leverkusen the ball control. The hosts could do so little initially, only after 22 minutes Leverkusen came to the first shot on goal of the game. After a cross from Nadiem Amiri from the left side of the shot from Sturmvorlaus Volland came to central, Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak parried (22).

Leverkusen became particularly dangerous in corner joints. After Amiri's corner, Madrid's center-back Felipe Glück had his header on the crossbar and not his own (38 '). Unfortunate was the next situation: In a corner kick Charles Aránguiz lifted the ball again to the center, Thomas' failed attempt at defense flew with a header into the gate of Atlético (41). The hitherto only Leverkusen goal in the current Champions League season had also been an own goal - Moscow's Benedikt Höwedes had scored in the game against Bayer into his own goal.

4 - Only 1 of the last 5 CL goals from @ bayer04fussball was scored by a Leverkusen player (Karim Bellarabi 2-4 against Atletico 2016/17) - the other 4 goals were all own goals. Help protect. # B04Atleti pic.twitter.com/ALstvTsKfh

The second goal of the hosts then scored a Leverkusen. After Atlético coach Diego Simeone replaced left-back Renan Lodi for midfielder Tomas Lemar, Madrid looked disorganized on the left-back. Karim Bellarabi used that for a cross into the penalty area, where Volland scored from ten meters to 2: 0 (55.).

Madrid came into trouble as Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky had no problems with a free-kick from Lemar (63 ') and a shot from Ángel Correa (64'). The visitors were more active, had more possession and came to more conclusions. Alvaro Morata was offside at the supposed 1: 2 (75.). In return, Leverkusen almost hit the 3: 0, after a corner kick prevailed chaos in Madrid's penalty area, Santiago Arias cleared the ball on the line (77.).

The final phase was heated. In a scrimmage in the penalty area four players saw the yellow card. Then there was also a red card against Amiri, after the Leverkusen opponent Arias had roguishly raked (85.). Leverkusen finished the game at tenth. Shortly before closing Morata succeeded in the connection (90 + 4), the balance was no longer.

Bayer Leverkusen - Atlético Madrid 2: 1 (1: 0)
1: 0 Partey (41st, own goal)
2: 0 Volland (55.)
2: 1 Morata (90. + 4)
Leverkusen: Hradecky - Weiser, Tah, S. Bedner, Wendell (81 retsos) - Demirbay, Aránguiz (64th Baumgartlinger), Bellarabi, Havertz (88th Dragovic), Amiri - Volland
Madrid: Oblak - Arias, Felipe, Hermoso, Renan Lodi (52nd Lemar) - Correa (70th Herrera), Thomas, Saul Niguez, Koke - Morata, Diego Costa (61st Vitolo)
Referee: Damir Skomina
Yellow Cards: Sage, Tah, Bellarabi / Oblak, Morata
Red card: Amiri (85.)
Spectators: 28,000