Bayer Leverkusen played its way into the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday (April 18, 2024) with a 1-1 (0-1) draw at West Ham United and at the same time set a new European record. Never before had a team managed to remain unbeaten in 44 competitive games in a row. The old record was held by the Italian record champions Juventus Turin.
Jeremie Frimpong provided Leverkusen with a big relief with his goal in the 88th minute. Bayer had previously been chasing the early deficit caused by Michail Antonio (12th) for a long time.
“We have to be very proud of ourselves for what we have achieved here,” Midfield boss Granit Xhaka said on RTL: “We didn’t do well in the first half, but the important thing is that we stayed together. It shows the character, the mentality that we play such a perfect second half after a weak half.”
West Ham clearly superior in the first half
West Ham started the game with a lot of offensive drive and pressed Bayer early in their own half. The first consequence was an early booking for central defender Odilon Kossounou, who could only unfairly stop James Ward-Prowse. However, the guests had the first chance of the game: Nathan Tella tested birthday boy Lukasz Fabianski, who turned 39 on match day.
Then the stadium suddenly cheered: the unfortunate Kossounou played a pass into the feet of Jarrod Bowen, whose cross landed precisely on Antonio’s head – the early 1-0 that Bayer wanted to avoid at all costs. Mohammed Kudus almost added the second goal (19th). Leverkusen looked completely out of character. Goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved Bayer from conceding a second goal with a brilliant save (24′). Bayer coach Xabi Alonso reacted after less than half an hour and brought on Edmond Tapsoba for Kossounou, who had already been booked.
Expulsions against both benches
How much emotion the game offered became apparent after just over half an hour. First there was a red card each against West Ham’s assistant coach Billy McKinlay and Bayer’s assistant coach Sebastian Parilla, then a pack formed on the pitch. Referee José Sánchez Martínez handed out warnings to Jonathan Tah and Antonio.
That didn’t change the fact that the English remained clearly the better team. Bayer were lucky that West Ham didn’t use their attacks better and saved themselves with a narrow deficit going into the break.
Bayer improved after the break
After the break, two more professionals were allowed to join in at Bayer: Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Boniface replaced the unfortunate Nathan Tella and Patrik Schick. Florian Wirtz, who had also been pale until then, made the first approach, but his shot (50th) went well over the goal. Bayer now looked more confident on the ball – also because West Ham were no longer operating at the same pace as in the first half.
A mistake by Piero Hincapié gave Bowen the chance to score the second goal out of nowhere after just under an hour. But the midfielder missed clearly. On the other hand, Frimpong tested Fabianski twice in the hosts’ goal. West Ham now paid more and more tribute to the high tempo. Leverkusen largely controlled the game and hardly allowed anything defensively.
Frimpong first fails – and then puts the lid on it
Seven minutes before the end, the Werkself could have almost certainly progressed, but Frimpong shot clearly too high as he ran towards the goal. Two minutes before the end, the Dutchman finally did better and removed all doubts: Aaron Cresswell deflected his shot from twelve meters from half-right into an unstoppable position – Leverkusen’s goal into the semi-finals and a record. The opponent in the round of the last four is AS Roma, who were able to eliminate AC Milan.