If the relevant decisions are made before kick-off and after the final whistle, then it’s probably all “karma” anyway. In any case, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky used this synonym for spiritual fate on Wednesday night to ironically explain why Bayer Leverkusen found out 25 minutes before the start of their guest appearance at Atletico Madrid that they will not survive the group stage of the Champions League this time. And why Atletico was allowed to take a penalty five minutes after the final whistle, which could have cost Leverkusen the grace walk into the Europa League.
With video evidence after the final whistle, Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco had the winning goal on his feet in the 99th minute, but Hradecky saved it – and so the Leverkuseners still have the chance after the 2-2 draw in the east of Madrid to at least hibernate at home against Bruges next Tuesday secure in the Europa League. Of course only if your karma allows it.
Porto’s 4-0 win in Brugge had already set things straight in the group 25 minutes before kick-off in Madrid. Bruges and Porto surprisingly continue to play in the round of 16 of the Champions League, Madrid and Leverkusen are fighting over the Europa League consolation. The 2-2 draw in Madrid on Wednesday evening with Bayer goals from Moussa Diaby (1-0, 9th) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (2-1, 29th) didn’t bring a decision in this regard.
Things got turbulent after the final whistle when the French referee Clement Turpin saw on the fieldside monitor a handball by Leverkusen player Piero Hincapie in the very last scene of the game that deserved a sanction. A defeat would have meant last place in the group for Bayer before the final game next Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Ferreira Carrasco failed to take the penalty in added time – Leverkusen also saved two more attempts by the Spaniards. Somehow.
(Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In the 99th minute, Carrasco ran, Hradecky saved, Saul Niguez headed the rebound to the crossbar and Reinildo’s follow-up shot was blocked on the goal line. An incredible scene. “Karma!” Hradecky joked afterwards, shrugging his shoulders, because sometimes the coincidences of football can no longer be rationally explained.
Leverkusen were not disappointed that they were without a win for the fourth time in a row in their fifth competitive game under new Spanish coach Xabi Alonso. There was only a 4-0 win against Bundesliga bottom Schalke, two defeats and two draws made for a mediocre mood afterwards.
If there is no group happy ending against Brugge next Tuesday, it would be the third Bayer exit this season after the DFB Cup exit in July and the Champions League group exit on Wednesday evening. Of four options, Bayer would then only have the Bundesliga, in which nobody expects an end at the end of the season, even if Leverkusen, currently fourth from bottom, is in danger and has a difficult game in Leipzig on Saturday.
Leverkusen last had a European Cup-free season like the one threatened next season in 2017/18, but there has never been an exit from the Bundesliga, i.e. relegation to the second division, since Bayer were promoted to the Bundesliga in 1979. That would be a disaster for Leverkusen and can’t even be explained with bad karma.