Malik Tillman brace helps Leverkusen secure Champions League play-off spot with comfortable win over Villarreal
Malik Tillman scored twice, and Alejandro Grimaldo added a third as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 3-0 victory against already-eliminated Villarreal to secure a seeded spot in the Champions League play-off round.
Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
Goals: 1-0 Tillman 12’, 2-0 Tillman 35’ (assist: Schick), 3-0 Grimaldo 57’ (assist: Vázquez)
Leverkusen headed into their final Champions League league phase fixture knowing that victory would guarantee them a place in the play-offs. Sitting 20th in the standings before kick-off, Kasper Hjulmand's side were determined to secure their progression against a Villarreal team that had collected just one point from their previous seven matches. The hosts entered the contest with confidence after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga at the weekend, while the Spanish visitors, despite occupying fourth spot in La Liga, arrived after a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
Tillman puts Leverkusen in control
Leverkusen started brightly, pressing high and controlling possession. Their dominance was rewarded in the 12th minute when Malik Tillman capitalised on a goalkeeping error. As Villarreal attempted to play out from the back, Arnau Tenas took too long to clear, and Tillman charged down his clearance, with the ball rebounding off the American and into the net.
The hosts continued to press forward, with Ibrahim Maza hitting the post in the 26th minute, before a remarkable sequence saw the ball strike Tenas, then the crossbar, before somehow staying out. Patrik Schick also went close with a volley, but Tillman doubled Leverkusen's lead in the 35th minute with a precise finish from the edge of the box after Schick had nodded down Alejandro Grimaldo's cross.
Grimaldo seals the deal
The visitors showed more intent after the break but still struggled to create clear opportunities. Nicolas Pépé had a penalty claim waved away in the 56th minute after going down under a challenge from Ezequiel Fernández.
Just a minute later, Leverkusen put the result beyond doubt when Grimaldo met Lucas Vázquez's cross with a superb volley that flew past Tenas. With the match effectively decided, both managers made numerous substitutions, including the return of Edmond Tapsoba for Leverkusen following his recent absence.
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