Alonso made seven changes to his team from Sunday’s 2-0 win against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Only Piero Hincapie, Edmond Tapsoba, Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz remained in the side. With Robert Andrich captaining the team from centre-back and Xhaka as the sole holding midfielder, the Werkself had plenty of attacking intent. Borja Iglesias alone had four attempts on goal in the opening stages. The best chance came from Hincapie, though, as he saw an effort from close range blocked on nine minutes. Bayer 04 dominated proceedings with more chances and possession, pushing the Azerbaijani champions back into their own half.
Leverkusen did suffer a setback midway through the first half when Jonas Hofmann was forced off with an injury. Qarabag had now settled and started to come forward more, but it was Frimpong who had the next chance. Things went quiet until Wirtz struck the crossbar in added time. It wouldn’t have counted anyway due to offside as things remained goalless at the break.
Exequiel Palacios, who had come on for Hofmann, produced the first effort of the second half, but it was the visitors who soon took a surprise lead when Abdellah Zoubir got above Frimpong and headed in a cross just before the hour mark. The pace of the game suddenly ramped up. Qarabag’s Elvin Jafarguliyev was sent off for a foul as last man on Frimpong after a VAR review moments later, but again it was the Azerbaijanis who struck next when Juninho turned in after 67 minutes. The Werkself really went for it now and got one back five minutes later through Frimpong’s cushioned volley. The Bayer 04 faithful were urging their team forward throughout and the Bundesliga leaders obliged. Shot after shot came from Leverkusen boots, in particular Wirtz, but it was Schick who emerged the hero off the bench with two added-time goals to send Alonso’s men through and extend that remarkable unbeaten run this term to 37 matches.
The draw for the quarter-finals is at 1pm CET on Friday. Leverkusen’s next game takes them to Freiburg on Sunday for Matchday 26 in the Bundesliga (3.30pm) before the international break. After that, it’s Hoffenheim who come to the BayArena on Saturday, 30 March (3.30pm).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Kovar – Kossounou (Stanisic 79'), Tapsoba, Andrich, Hincapie (Grimaldo 59') - Xhaka - Frimpong, Hofmann (Palacios 28'), Wirtz, Adli - Iglesias (Schick 59')
Qarabag: Lunev - Vesovic (Medina 86'), Mustafazade, B. Hüseynov, Cafarquliyev - Romao, Jankovic - L. Andrade (Silva 77'), Benzia (Bayramov 65'), Zoubir (P. Andrade 86') - Juninho (Akhundzade 77')
Goals: 0-1 Zoubir (58'), 0-2 Juninho (67'), 1-2 Frimpong (72'), 2-2 Schick (90'+2), 3-2 Schick (90'+7)
Yellow cards: Schick - Juninho, Lunev
Red cards: Jafarquliyev (62')
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
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