Coach Seoane made four changes to his team from the 1-0 win over Bochum in the Bundesliga. Odilon Kossounou, Piero Hincapie, Exequiel Palacios and Paulinho all started in place of Edmond Tapsoba, Daley Sinkgraven, Nadiem Amiri (all on the bench) and Kerem Demirbay (suspended).
Leverkusen needed around 15 minutes to get going before settling into the game. That came down to the visitors’ compact formation, with Diaby & Co. allowed very little space. It meant a set piece was needed to break the deadlock, with Florian Wirtz’s perfect corner being met by the head of Andrich in the six-yard box and put past Joe Hart on 16 minutes.
It was a thoroughly deserved lead, and Seoane’s side remained the dominant team after that. With great support from the north stand, Bayer 04 pushed Celtic back and were particularly creative down the right. However, it just lacked the final ball and a touch of luck to get another goal.
Yet the visitors were awarded a penalty after a VAR review following Lukas Hradecky’s collision with Kyogo Furuhashi at a cross. Referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos originally waved play on before changing his mind after viewing the scene again. Josip Juranovic converted from 12 yards to level things with five minutes to go in the first half – the Scottish side’s first shot on target. Leverkusen were unlucky again moments later when Diaby took advantage of a mistake at the back but only struck the frame of the goal with his volley. Wirtz then put his rebound against the outside of the post.
Bayer 04 came out with renewed attacking intent in the second half and only just missed out on a second goal. Wirtz played a great through ball into the path of Diaby, but he came up short one-on-one against Hart. Amine Adli was then also denied by the goalkeeper. The Scots were woken up by those chances as Ange Postecoglou’s side took the lead almost immediately afterwards. Furuhashi squared in the box to Jota, who finished into the far corner.
Celtic started to drop further back into their own half after that. The Werkself had more possession and were pushing for an equaliser. The team simply lacked a spark in the final third against the deep-sitting Scots. The best opportunity came from Adli, but Hart got his feet in the way with 10 minutes remaining.
However, Bayer 04 did level things up two minutes later. Wirtz crossed from the right corner of the box to substitute Amiri, who knocked the ball down for Andrich to power home first time.
It would become a magical European night at the BayArena, as Diaby had the place rocking only five minutes later. Wirtz was again at the heart of things, cutting back for the Frenchman to volley home from the edge of the box and make it 3-2. Leverkusen defended with everything they had into the six minutes of added time to see out a deserved home win.
It means Bayer 04 have guaranteed first place in Group G with a game to spare and will go straight into the round of 16 in the Europa League. Hradecky & Co. are next in action on Sunday, 28 November, away at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga (17:30 CET).
Stats
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong, Tah, Kossounou, Hincapie (Sinkgraven 75') – Andrich, Palacios – Diaby, Wirtz (Tapsoba 89'), Paulinho (Amiri 75') – Adli
Celtic: Hart – Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Juranovic – McGregor, Bitton (McCarthy 76'), Turnbull – Forrest (Abada 72'), Furuhashi (Ajeti 76'), Jota (Johnston 72')
Goals: 1-0 Andrich (16'), 1-1 Juranovic (pen, 40'), 1-2 Jota (56'), 2-2 Andrich (82'), 3-2 Diaby (87')
Yellow cards: Palacios, Hradecky – Carter-Vickers
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece)
Attendance: 19,830
Under Carles Martínez, the Werkself have so far proved unbeatable at the BayArena. The Spaniard has led his team to victory in all three of their most recent home matches – and, it's worth noting, without conceding a single goal. On Sunday, 18 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST / live on DAZN and Werkself Radio), current league leaders SC Freiburg will make the trip to Leverkusen, but will be without their top scorer. What's more, the Werkself have won all three of their previous home matches against the Black Forest club. With a goal, Patrik Schick could not only secure a fourth consecutive victory but also set a memorable record. Meanwhile, on what will be the ‘Health Day' at the BayArena, much of the focus will be on physical wellbeing. Today's matchday news.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women missed out on victory in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as they were held to a draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Estrella Merino Gonzalez had put the Werkself ahead directly from a corner at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, before Laura Freigang levelled for the visitors as it finished all square between fourth and third on Matchday 7.
Show more
Freiburg have made an impressive start to the season, unbeaten in nine games across all competitions, with eight of them wins. Now the Bundesliga leaders come to the BayArena on Sunday to take on the Werkself, but Julian Schuster’s team will be missing their top scorer. Here’s the lowdown on our next opponent.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without attacking midfielder Martin Terrier for the time being. The Frenchman sustained a muscle injury to his left hamstring yesterday, Thursday 15 October, during the Europa League game against Polish champions Lech Poznan (4–0). Terrier is not expected to be available until late December.
Show more
