Zero number is enough for Leverkusen for 3rd place |
Alonso is in trouble in the Europa League
A consolation for the Leverkusen crisis!
Bayer draws 0-0 against Bruges in the Champions League – and is at least qualified for the Europa League. In third place, star coach Xabi Alonso’s squad progressed in third place despite the sporting downturn and now six games in a row without a win. Because Atlético Madrid fails in the long-distance duel and loses against FC Porto. With that, the Spaniards are actually eliminated — unbelievable!
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11/01/2022
Interesting: Before the season, Xabi Alonso was a hot candidate for coaching at Bruges. But in the end it was decided to make Carl Hoefkens the head coach. He is successful (third in Belgium, still in the premier class), the Spaniard, on the other hand, is in crisis…
It’s loud in the BayArena. Is because around 5,000 Belgians loudly support their team. They all came because there is also a public holiday. Many will have used Monday as “Bruges Day” and have already arrived earlier…
After the 0: 2 at the weekend in Leipzig there are six changes: Hincapie (suspended), Fosu-Mensah, Amiri, Sinkgraven (not reported), Adli and Hlozek make way for Kossounou, Frimpong, Palacios, Bakker, Hudson-Odoi and Schick.
The constellation before the game is clear: Bayer must always be one result better than Atlético Madrid (draw if the Spaniards go bankrupt, win if the Spaniards draw) in the long-distance duel for third place in the group. The right for the consolation Europa League.
After five minutes, Porto leads against Atlético. Accordingly, Leverkusen would be further with the point win. Bruges would therefore no longer have a chance of being number 1 in the group.
There are few highlights in the game.
24 minutes: 2-0 for Porto! Now it smells strongly of Europe here!
39 minutes: The best chance for the guests. Sowah pulls away – Hradecky saves. Six minutes before that comes the first dangerous Bayer shot from Diaby. Also kept!
46 minutes: Brugge’s Buchanan hammers the ball against the bar. Hello awake moment for the Leverkusen team! Sobol narrowly misses the margin.
54 minutes: Strong Schick header — strong reflex from goalkeeper Mignolet. The ball flies up and hits the bar.
Latte twice — Xabi Alonso is Latte! At least he makes it into the Europa League as third in the group.