Leverkusen's end in the Champions League: content in defeat

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Cristiano Ronaldo was too much for the third car. He shook off the man who had jumped euphorically at his throat after the final whistle and gestured furiously. Ronaldo was allowed to hug Ronaldo the first fan who made it onto the field, while the Portuguese ducked away at the second. Another did not make it to the pitch because he fell over the roof of the coaching bench when jumping.

Players who trigger such hype in a football stadium rarely come to Leverkusen. When Lionel Messi was there in 2012, the Bayer players were already fighting for the break for his jersey, 2015 came again the Argentine, now Ronaldo. Many jerseys with the number seven were to be seen, a small boy with a Juventus cap mimicked the goal celebrations on the way to the stadium. Later the cars followed.

But now Leverkusen will have to wait a while for the big stars again. After the 0-2 (0-0) against Juventus - and anyway by Atlético victory in parallel game against Lokomotiv Moscow - Bayer has retired from the Champions League and will compete in February in the Europa League.

Four points is Leverkusen's second-place deficit. He goes back mainly to the defeats in the first three games. It did indeed better performances and victories against Atlético and Lokomotive. But felt already the defeat home defeat against the Moscow sealed off.

Juventus with B defense

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After the final whistle against Juve players and responsible emphasized the strength of the opponent, were proud of their own performance. "We can not blame, except that we conceded two goals," said defender Aleksandar Dragovic. Sporting Director Rudi Völler said the team had "done very well in the first half", saying Juventus was "just a great team". Coach Peter Bosz was "disappointed" by the result, but not by the performance "against a team of this quality."

Satisfaction in the defeat. The sentences strongly reminded of the Dortmund declarations after the bankruptcy at the FC Barcelona.

The guests were given the safe group victory not in full squad, especially in the defense. Coach Maurizio Sarri exchanged his complete back four. Center-backs Merih Demiral and Daniele Rugani came together for three appearances in the current season before the match. Right-back Danilo played in the league last barely a role. Left-back Mattia De Sciglio is actually second behind Alex Sandro.

But also against the B-defense Bayer remained harmless overall. No exception: Of the five Leverkusen meetings in this Champions League season, three came from own goals. In the Bundesliga but Leverkusen wants to continue its run of four unbeaten games. The fact that the fans were mentally not only in the Juve game with Ronaldo, but also in the game on Saturday in Cologne, showed a banner in the Fankurve. It said, "Get the derby victory."

Bayer Leverkusen - Juventus 0: 2 (0: 0)
0: 1 Ronaldo (75.)
0: 2 Higuain (90. + 2)
Leverkusen: Hradecky - L. Bender, Dragovic, S. Bender, Sinkgraven - Bellarabi (66th Bailey), Demirbay (65th Baumgartlinger), Aránguiz, Diaby - Havertz, Alario (82nd Volland) Juventus: Buffon - Danilo, Demiral, Rugani, de Sciglio - Cuadrado (90th + 3Muratore), Pjanic, Rabiot (85th Matuidi) - Bernardeschi (66th Dybala) - Higuaín, Ronaldo Referee: Bastien (France)
Yellow cards: none
Spectators: 20,000