After becoming champions in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen drew in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League at West Ham United and moved into the semi-finals.
Europa League quarter-finals: West Ham United versus Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 (1-0)
After the championship has been determined: Bayer moves into the semi-finals of the Europa League
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: Leverkusen earn a 1-1 draw at West Ham United and advance to the semi-finals of the Europa League thanks to a 2-0 win in the first leg. In the first half it didn't look at all as if London should have been leading higher at the break. After the break, the Werkself got into the game better and had everything under control. Frimpong eliminated the last doubts shortly before the end. AS Roma are waiting in the semi-finals. With the draw at West Ham United, Bayer Leverkusen has gone 44 competitive games in a row without defeat, surpassing Juventus' record.
West Ham United versus Bayer Leverkusen 1:1 (1:0)
West Ham lineup |
Fabianski - Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell - Soucek, Ed. Alvarez, Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Bowen - Antonio |
|---|---|
Bayer Leverkusen lineup |
Kovar - Stanisic, Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie - Palacios, G. Xhaka, Tella, Wirtz, Grimaldo - Schick |
Gates |
1:0 Antonio (13th minute), 1:1 Frimpong (89th minute) |
90th minute
: There are four minutes of added time.
89th minute: That's the equalizer and therefore the decision! Frimpong just tries, his shot is deflected and hits Fabianski.
87th minute
: Andrich replaces Wirtz.
85th minute
: Soucek and Palacios clash and both get yellow.
83rd minute: Frimpong has to equalize! During a counterattack, the Dutchman is through and appears free in front of Fabianski. But his shot goes clearly over the top, really bitter!
79th minute
: Bad pass from Boniface into the feet of Kudus. The striker picks up speed and shoots, but Stanisic is in between and blocks the shot on goal.
77th minute:
Long balls keep coming from West Ham, but they are all prey to the Leverkusen defense. Leverkusen hasn't had to survive a difficult situation for a long time.
70th minute
: There are still 20 minutes to go and Leverkusen now has everything under control. West Ham United's strength is dwindling more and more. Compensation would now be a preliminary decision. But only one goal conceded for Bayer and it goes into extra time.
67th minute
: Change at Leverkusen. Grimaldo goes out, Adli comes for him.
66th minute
: Antonio and Tapsoba have a private duel that so far clearly goes to Leverkusen. The West Ham striker complains after every tackle and demands a free kick.
64th minute
: Leverkusen has a lot of ball possession at this stage of the encounter, but has no interest in making the game quick. West Ham are deep and waiting for a counterattack.
60th minute
: Really big deal for West Ham because Hincapie doesn't see Bowen in his own penalty area and allows the ball to be taken from him. However, the attacker is pushed too far out and can no longer finish dangerously.
54th minute
: Leverkusen are now in a much better position in the game. West Ham cannot maintain the high pace from the first half.
51st minute
: Frimpong drives the ball over the right side and crosses into the penalty area. Wirtz takes the ball directly, but shoots well over the goal.
49th minute
: The second half starts very quietly.
47th minute
. By the way, Alonso made two substitutions during the break. Boniface and Frimpong replace Tella and Schick.
46th minute
: the second half continues.
West Ham United vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Hosts lead at break
Half time
: Break in London. After an intense 45 minutes, West Ham United deservedly lead 1-0, but have to be blamed for not scoring more goals. Bayer Leverkusen shows a very poor performance. The Werkself don't get into duels and are always a bit slower than the hosts. Xabi Alonso's team can't be seen offensively at all, Wirtz and Schick are invisible.
47th minute:
West Ham has to change. Ogbonna replaces Aguerd, who sprained himself earlier and cannot continue.
45th minute
: There are five minutes of injury time.
43rd minute
: West Ham keeps coming forward, the Leverkusen defense has a lot of work to do. Now it's Soucek with a shot, Kovar parries.
39th minute
: Nothing has worked out for Leverkusen offensively today and the Werkself keep losing important duels defensively. West Ham are close to their second goal.
35th minute
: A sharp cross from Bowen narrowly misses Antonio. Leverkusen will be happy when there is a break soon.
31st minute
: Scuffle on the benches and suddenly on the field! There is a red card against an assistant coach from West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen. Tah and Antonio see yellow.
29th minute
: Xabi Alonso replaces Kossounou, who was not on the pitch at all. Tapsoba comes into the game for him.
25th minute:
Brilliant save from Kovar! The keeper prevents West Ham from making it 2-0 from close range. What's going on here with Bayer Leverkusen?
22nd minute
: Crazy pace that West Ham is going here. Antonio with the next chance, but his header is too central.
19th minute
: Stanisic allows himself to be pushed away by Kudus and his shot catches Kovar on the wrong foot. But the keeper barely gets to the ball and prevents it from hitting the ball.
18th minute
: West Ham are clearly the better team here so far and are pushing for 2-0. Leverkusen is shocked and Kossounou in particular is completely out of character. Does Alonso react early and take out the defender?
13th minute
: What shouldn't happen happens. Antonio heads in from a Bowen cross for a 1-0 lead. Kovar comes out but can't get to the ball. Very bad start for Leverkusen.
11th minute
: Tella tests Fabianski with a powerful shot from 20 meters, the keeper deflects the ball for a corner. That was the first good chance of the game.
8th minute
: Keeper Kovar lets Ward-Prowse get out. That was very risky from the Leverkusen goalkeeper.
5th minute
: Kossounou is shown a yellow card early on after a foul in midfield. Of course, that's not ideal for the Leverkusen central defender
4th minute
: The hosts start the game intensively and press high.
2nd minute
: The atmosphere here is breathtaking. West Ham United were loudly pushed forward by their fans from the first minute.
1st minute
: Let's start at the London Stadium.
+++ 8.40 p.m
.: Thanks to the 2-0 win in the first leg, Bayer Leverkusen is the big favorite to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. West Ham United have to improve significantly compared to their disappointing performance in the Rhineland.
Update from April 18th, 7:55 p.m.:
The lineups of both teams are there. Xabi Alonso shakes up his starting eleven compared to the Bremen game. There are a total of six changes at Bayer Leverkusen. In addition to the expected swap in goal (Kovar for Hradecky), Stanisic, Palacios, Wirtz, Gtimaldo and Schick also start for Tapsoba, Andrich, Adli, Hofmann and Boniface.
First report
: Leverkusen – After the celebrations for the first German championship in the club's history, Bayer Leverkusen continues with the Europa League. After the 2-0 win in the quarter-final first leg, head coach Xabi Alonso's team wants to show at West Ham United that they are among the favorites for the title internationally.
West Ham United against Bayer Leverkusen: Werkself back to London with a 2-0 first leg win
The Werkself have a lot of respect for their opponents and especially for the atmosphere in the stadium. “When you come to England you know what to expect: an electric atmosphere, with fans and team who will give everything against you,” said Alonso at the pre-match press conference in London.
No more thought is being given to the championship title for now, as Bayer Leverkusen still has other goals for this season. “We knew that we could win the Bundesliga title on Sunday and we really wanted to do it – and of course enjoy it. There will be enough time after the season to reflect on everything, now it's Europa League time: We're having a good season and we can make it much better," Alonso continued.
Midfield strategist Granit We all talked enough about last Sunday, we deservedly became champions, but there wasn't too much to celebrate because we still want to achieve something. We are fit and want to play a good game.”
West Ham United vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Who will reach the semi-finals?
The former Arsenal FC player knows West Ham United well and also the atmosphere in the stadium with the enthusiastic fans. “I have already had my experiences as a player here in this stadium. There will be 60,000 people there and pushing the home team forward with all their might. We have the self-confidence to survive here and make it to the semi-finals,” says the Swiss confidently.
Should Bayer Leverkusen make it to the semi-finals of the Europa League, they will face the winner of the quarter-final duel AC Milan against AS Roma. (
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