Back
10.12.2020Europa League

Werkself beat Slavia Prague 4-0 to win group

Bayer 04 continue their incredible run: The Werkself ended the group phase in the UEFA Europa League with a 4-0 victory over Slavia Prague, who were level on points, to secure the desired top spot. In the eighth win in the last nine games, Leon Bailey netted a brace (8'/32'), and Moussa Diaby (59') and Karim Bellarabi (90+ 1') scored the other two goals. The draw for the Round of 32 in the Europa League will be made in Nyon at 13.00 CET on Monday.
20201210_JS_B04_SLA_1611.jpg

Bayer 04 coach Peter Bosz again rang the changes in the third double fixture week in succession with five changes to the side that started in the last game against Schalke 04. The Werkself coach put Niklas Lomb in goal for his second appearance in the Europa League after his debut against Rosenborg in 2012. Tin Jedvaj, Edmond Tapsoba, Wendell and Karim Bellarabi came into the team in place of Lars Bender, Jonathan Tah, Florian Wirtz and Moussa Diaby. Leverkusen were missing six players with Paulinho, Santiago Arias, Exequiel Palacios, Charles Aránguiz out injured and Kerem Demirbay sidelined with a coronavirus infection and Sven Bender out with a knee injury. Lukas Hradecky, Florian Wirtz and Lucas Alario were not in the squad. There were also three U19 players on the bench in Emrehan Gedikli, Cem Tuna Türkmen and Samed Onur.

Early lead through Bailey

After a minute's silence for Paolo Rossi, the Italian World Cup winner and top scorer in 1982 who passed away at the age of 64, the clash to win the group at the BayArena started. Daley Sinkgraven, this time playing in midfield, had the first chance on goal after good work from Patrik Schick and Nadiem Amiri but the Dutchman's shot was blocked and turned away for a corner (4'). A low shot from Amiri from a free kick flashed past the target at the near post (7'). The third attempt ended in the back of the net: Sinkgraven picked out Karim Bellarabi on the right wing with an excellent pass and he whipped in a cross that Schick missed but Leon Bailey was right behind him took the ball away to make it 1-0 (8'). The fourth involvement in goal for the in-form Jamaican in the last four Europa League games.

Sinkgraven's goal ruled out

Shortly after that, Petar Musa tested Lomb from the edge of the box (13'). Bailey was then in touching distance of a brace when he popped up in front of the Slavia Prague goal from a Schick pass but the Czech keeper Ondrej Kolar made the save (16'). – The first 20 minutes clearly belong to the agile hosts. When Sinkgraven put away a rebound off the keeper from a Bellarabi shot to double the lead, the assistant referee raised his flag – offside, probably an error (26').

Schick wants to do it too well

The Werkself continued to move the ball well and clearly were enjoying the game. As just after the half-hour mark: An Amiri cross was headed against the inside of the post by Schick but Bailey was on hand to thrash the rebound under the bar from close range to make it 2-0 (32'). That was goal number 19 for Leverkusen in the competition and no other German team has scored as many goals in the group stage of the Europa League before. Schick was looking for perfection in the penalty area and he got knotted up with his dribble rather than shooting from a promising position. As a rocket from Amiri was blocked, a good chance for the third goal went begging (35'). Bayer 04 went into half-time with a well earned 2-0 lead.

Peter Bosz made two changes for the start of the second 45: Moussa Diaby and Emrehan Gedikli replaced Bailey and Schick. Slavia Prague were now much livelier and looked to press forward. But the goals kept coming for the Werkself: Diaby received a great pass from Sinkgraven before nutmegging Kolar to make it 3-0 (59'). To Bosz that was a sign to make two more changes: Lars Bender and debutant Samed Onur replaced Baumgartlinger and Sinkgraven (60'). Diaby almost scored a second but David Zima blocked him (66'). Then came the fifth and final substitution for Bayer 04: Cem Türkmen came on for Amiri (74'). There were now three home-grown players from the U19s on the pitch.

Bellarabi rounds it off

One of the youngsters almost scored but Gedikli took too much time getting control of the ball after a Bellarabi solo run and Diaby cross and thereby missed the chance to make it 4-0 (76’). The game was now like a relaxed exhibition display for the Werkself who continued to dominate the game. Lomb did have the opportunity to shine when he turned away a free kick for a corner (87'). Diaby smacked the ball against the bar (89') before Bellarabi took advantage of Türkmen winning the ball and a Diaby cross to make it 4-0 (90+1'). The final whistle soon followed and the Werkself were clear group winners.

Bayer 04 are back in league action against TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga matchday 11 on Sunday 13 December. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 18.00 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Lomb – Jedvaj, Dragovic, Tapsoba, Wendell – Amiri (Türkmen 74'), Baumgartlinger (L. Bender 60'), Sinkgraven (Onur 60') – Bellarabi, Schick (Gedikli 46’), Bailey (Diaby 46’)

Slavia Prague: Kolar – Masopust, Zima, Boril, Dorley – Sevcik (Stanciu 19’), Traoré (Karafiat 82’)– Sima (Jurasek 82’), Lingr, Olayinka – Musa (Tecl 53’)

Goals: 1-0 Bailey (8’), 2-0 Bailey (32’), 3-0 Diaby (59’), 4-0 Bellarabi (90+1’)

Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece)

Booked: Schick, Onur

2020-11-30_L2D_B04_TdM_Medium-Rect_300x250.jpg

Related News

FFIT-Turnier 2024
Social Commitment - 14.10.2024

FFIT tournament in Leverkusen: High point of important health promotion campaign

While there are no Bundesliga fixtures during international break, last weekend brought overweight fans from 16 first, second and third tier sides together on the pitch in Leverkusen. Over 200 participants in the health promotion programme 'Football fans in training' (FFIT), organised by Deutsche Krebshilfe (the German cancer support organisation) and the Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord) accepted the invitation from Bayer 04 and Deutsche Krebshilfe on 12 October for the 2024 XXL fans tournament.

Show more
GMS Giganetz GmbH
Business - 14.10.2024

GMS Giganetz GmbH a new partner in Business Club

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended their sponsorship portfolio with the addition of another supporter in the Business Club. GMS Giganetz GmbH and the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal winners have agreed a partnership to 30 June 2026.

Show more
Draw at the Weserstadion: Women draw 1-1 in Bremen | 6th Matchday
Werkself-TV - 12.10.2024

Women: TV-highlights of 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-1 draw at SV Werder Bremen on matchday 6 of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2024/25...

Show more
Shen Menglu und Emilie Bragstad
Women - 11.10.2024

Big stage in Bremen: 'Showcase women's football'

A special stage for women's football: When the Bayer 04 Women's team face Werder Bremen on Saturday, 12 October (kick-off: 14.00 CEST), the team led by coach Roberto Pätzold will play in front of an unusually large crowd. 19,000 tickets have already been sold for the big match at the Weserstadion.

Show more