Bayer Leverkusen beat Sparta Prague to secure place in UEFA Champions League Round of 16
Goals from Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella took defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen directly through to the UEFA Champions League last 16 with victory over Sparta Prague.
Leverkusen's brilliant start to this season's Champions League meant that last week's loss to Atlético Madrid failed to dent home ambitions of a place in the round of 16 as one of the tournament's top-eight teams. Beat Sparta, and the reigning Bundesliga champions would be almost assured of that very outcome. By contrast, the visitors knew their European hopes were already extinguished after five-straight losses in European club football's elite competition, no matter the outcome at the BayArena. That Xabi Alonso's men were the team with something to play for was evident throughout a first half that the Werkself dominated. Former Sparta youth player Patrik Schick and midfielder Granit Xhaka threatened, before Wirtz took over. Leverkusen's No.10 drew a flying stop from Peter Vindahl in the visiting goal, but the Danish custodian could do nothing when last term's Bundesliga Player of the Season expertly found the corner following some superb running by Jeremie Frimpong soon afterwards.
Along with Schick, Leverkusen keeper Matěj Kovář also had history with Sparta, the Czech international previously enjoying a loan spell with Lars Friis's side. At the start of the second half, the 24-year-old was thwarting his former team with a fine save against Victor Olatunji. The next time the pair faced off, Olatunji almost got the better of Kovář who, off his line, watched a lob from the Nigerian bounce agonisingly wide. Aware that they had slipped into a pattern of giving up leads again of late, the 2023/24 double winners duly sparked back into life and they put daylight between themselves and their opponents not long after the hour mark. When Álex Grimaldo's free-kick popped over the wall and was parried by Vindahl, Tella was there to sweep home the rebound and set Bayer on their way into the last 16.
Match stats
Leverkusen have never lost back-to-back games in European competition under Alonso (P32: W18, D8, L6).
Bayer are now unbeaten in their last 13 European matches at the BayArena (W10, D3) - their best ever home run without loss in continental football.
Wirtz is one of only three players to have scored at least five goals (five), created 10 or more chances from open play (18) and completed 10 or more dribbles (16) in this season's Champions League, along with Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha.
Wirtz has 10 goals to show for his first 19 home European matches in Leverkusen colours. The Germany international brought his Champions League tally up top six here.
Schick is a product of the Sparta youth system. The Leverkusen striker made his professional debut and scored once in 10 senior appearances for the club.
Champions League League phase, Matchday 8 League phase, Matchday 8 BayArena
Full-time: Bayer 2-0 Sparta
A relatively straightforward night's work for Leverkusen, who achieve 6th place in the standings and an automatic place in the Champions League Round of 16. A tremendous achievement for Xabi Alonso's side, who celebrated here thanks to goals from Florian Wirtz (his 6th in the competition this season) and Nathan Tella.
A Sparta corner is watched all the way by Birmančević, who can only bundle the ball over the crossbar.
71'
Grimaldo goes close
From a tight angle on the left, the Spain international digs out a shot that Vindahl manages to block after spreading himself.
67'
All Leverkusen
Bayer 04 are in cruise control now. Another fine build-up ends with Wirtz firing wide. Should have been a corner, but the referee missed Wirtz's shot taking a nick of the defender.
65'
Xhaka booked
The Swiss midfielder is shown a yellow for a shove.
Grimaldo's free kick from the edge of the area goes over the wall, is parried by Vindahl and Tella is there on the follow up to divert home the rebound.
Grimaldo has a pop at the target but that's relatively straightforward Vindahl .
55'
Bayer back in control
Xabi Alonso's men are on the ball once more and looking to dictate proceedings here.
51'
Olatunji again
The Nigerian races onto a ball over the top and spots Kovář a long way off his line. The Nigerian striker lifts the ball over the Bayer keeper, who looks on in relief as the shot bounces narrowly wide.
48'
Kovář alert
Kovář is forced into his first save from Olatunji, who got ahead of Tapsoba before firing low at the target.
47'
Wirtz miss
Frimpong runs at the the Sparta defence, but finds trouble. He lays off for Wirtz to blast over.
46'
Sparta pressure
The Czechs have won a couple of corners at the start of this second half, but have not been able to make use of either.
46'
Away we go again
The second half is on in Leverkusen.
Half-time: Bayer 1-0 Sparta
The Bundesliga champions are in control and in front here thanks to Florian Wirtz's opener. As things stand, the Werkself are heading through to the Round of 16 as one of the top-eight teams.
Bayer 04 knock the ball all the way across the goal, with Wirtz eventually teeing up Grimaldo. The Spaniard lets fly and looks on as Vindahl tips over.
In position
After the latest shuffling of the table, Leverkusen are safely among the top eight teams and will qualify directly to the Round of 16, as things stand.
Another promising attack from the Bundesliga champions, with Wirtz menacing in the middle before feeding Tella on the far side. His shot is high and wide of the target.
34'
Almost 2-0
Tella gets to the back stick to meet a looping corner but he can only find the side-netting with his header.
32'
Leverkusen pounce
Frimpong leads a stunning attack down the right and makes it all the way into the Sparta area. The Dutch flyer pulls a pass across to Wirtz, who finds the corner with a smart finish.
Frimpong's shot appears to catch Ševínský's arm, which is above his shoulders. The referee points to the spot but after a check on the monitor, the official sees that the ball came off Ševínský's head. On we go ...
24'
Super save
Vindahl has just pulled off a superb, flying one-handed save to deny Wirtz, whose shot looked destined for the top corner.
22'
Sparta push forward
Wiesner sends a header well wide of the upright as the visitors enjoy a rare foray forward.
20'
Chances flowing
Leverkusen have enjoyed a couple of decent opportunities in the past few minutes, with Palacios having a shot saved by Vindahl and then Wirtz sending an effort from distance wide.
14'
Bayer 04 sliding
As things stand, Leverkusen are in 12th position in the live table and outside the automatic qualification spots for the Round of 16.
10'
Schick off target
Shick bends and heads off target under pressure from the Sparta defence. That's the Czech's first opportunity of the night.
8'
Off the line
Vitík saves Sparta with a clearance off the line following a Leverkusen corner that curled right towards goal.
6'
Sparta sitting back
The Czech side are content to sit in here and wait to hit the hosts on the break.
3'
Bright start
The hosts are going for it in these early stages, with Schick and the Xhaka having efforts that failed to make it home.
2'
Frimpong lively
The Dutch full-back quickly gets into the visiting area and tries a few step-overs before rolling the ball across the area. Sparta clear.
1'
Game on!
The action in underway at the BayArena.
Here come the teams!
Bayer 04 and Sparta make their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch ... here we go!
Warm-ups
Both sides are going through the final phases of their respective pre-match warm-ups at the BayArena. We're edging ever closer kick off ...
Win needed?
As they take to the field in the hope of advancing directly through to the Round of 16 soon, Leverkusen will be keen to end a two-game winless run that took in last week's defeat against Atlético and Saturday's draw against Leipzig. The Werkself led in both of those games before being dragged back, which has been somewhat of a theme this season that Xabi Alonso will want to stamp out.
It's a special night for Bayer 04's Czech international Patrik Schick, who faces the side with whom he began his footballing carer, Sparta. The striker joined the club as an 11-year-old and made his senior bow with them in 2014.
The Bayer 04 coach makes five changes to the side that started last weekend's 2-2 draw against RB Leipzig. Kovář steps in between the posts while there are starting returns for Frimpong, Palacios, Grimaldo and Tella. Andrich, Aleix Garcia and Arthur are on the bench tonight while Hincapié is serving a suspension following his red card against Atlético de Madrid last time out.
Surovčík, Heerkens, Suchomel, Ross, Daněk, Haraslín, Panák, Krasniqi, Rus, Penxa
PATIENCE IS KEY
Don’t expect Leverkusen to go gung-ho into the match. “We mustn't attack hurriedly. That's never good,” said Alonso in his pre-match presser. “We'll approach the game like every other and we've prepared as normal."
In response to Martin Terrier's long-term Achilles injury, Leverkusen have brought in Emiliano Buendia from Aston Villa on a six-month loan. "He is a good, technically versatile player who plays in a passionate and assertive way," said sporting director Simon Rolfes.
With goal difference potentially making all the difference, could we see a high-scoring affair at the BayArena? There’s a good chance as Sparta have conceded 19 goals in seven games so far, including 11 in their two games against Manchester City and Atletico. Only four teams in the competition have conceded more.
Leverkusen fans will surely be keeping an eye on Aston Villa’s game against Celtic. If both teams win, the English Premier League team - currently just below Alonso's men in the rankings - must win by two goals more than Leverkusen to pip the German champions to eighth place and automatic Last 16 qualification.
It’s Sparta’s most fierce derby rivals who have enjoyed the most success of any Czech team against Leverkusen. Slavia Prague boast two wins and a draw in four meetings, but the last – and most recent – was an emphatic 4-0 Leverkusen victory in the Europa League group stage in December 2020, a game in which Schick and Tapsoba played for the hosts.
Leverkusen boast a 100% record in competitive meetings with Sparta Prague. OK, it was some time ago – the 2007/08 UEFA Cup group stage to be precise – but a Manuel Friedrich header was enough to give Die Werkself a 1-0 win, despite midfielder Carsten Ramelow being sent off on the hour mark.
Supporters may see another familiar face in the crowd this evening. Sparta’s sporting director Tomáš Rosický spent five-and-a-half years at Borussia Dortmund between 2001 and 2006. He won the 2001/02 Bundesliga title with Die Schwarzgelben, finishing UEFA Cup runner-up the same season.
Adli (broken leg), Belocian (cruciate), Hincapie (suspended), who scored and was sent off against Atletico last time out, and Terrier (achilles) are all on the sidelines for tonight's games.
Sparta Prague head coach Lars Friis on Patrik Schick and Leverkusen
"He is in great shape, he works great not only offensively, but also defensively. He fits perfectly into their style of play. However, we did not prepare specifically for him, because they have a lot of world-class players. We would have to prepare for each of them."
"We have a clear plan for tomorrow and our goal is to win. Anything can happen. It's the last Champions League game of the league phase, a final step to take. Our focus is on us, not on what happens in other games. We are focused on what we can do and want to achieve a good result. We must not underestimate the opponent and must give everything to achieve our goal."
The Prague side lie in 29th place on four points, putting them in the elimination places. They have lost five of their seven games so far, winning one and drawing one of the remaining games. They aren't able to escape elimination, but would love to go out on a high with a win over Leverkusen.
The story so far: Bayer Leverkusen
They currently sit 8th in the standings, level on points with the five teams below them (Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest) with 13 points. Looking upwards, they sit just three points off 3rd place Arsenal, and as things stand will be going directly into the round of 16. Their recent loss away to Atlético Madrid was just their second this season in the competition, having won four and drawn one of the remaining games.
The hosts let a 2-0 lead slip to RB Leipzig in their most recent Bundesliga game, extending the gap between them and league leaders Bayern Munich to six points. Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso's men have plenty of time to close that gap before the season's end.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's eighth and final game of the UEFA Champions League's 2024/25 league phase at home to Sparta Prague on Wednesday, with all 18 fixtures being played simultaneously on the final matchday.
