With seven changes to the starting line-up, the Werkself imposed their dominant style of play on the visitors from Azerbaijan, with Borja Iglesias having four attempts on goal in the early stages alone. After around half an hour, head coach Xabi Alonso had to take off Jonas Hofmann due to a muscular problem. Florian Wirtz then had the next chance, striking the bar from an offside position, but the first half ended goalless. After that, things really escalated. Qarabag went in front in the 58th minute, had a man sent off four minutes later and then even made it 2-0 in the 67th minute. However, like the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Baku, the Werkself came back from two goals down in the closing stages - and this time, went one better. Jeremie Frimpong reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute, before substitute Patrik Schick emerged as the hero of the hour. In time added on, the Czech international first finished off a pass from Alejandro Grimaldo and then headed in the winning goal in the 98th minute. Wild scenes broke out among those in black and red as they celebrated progression to the quarter-finals. Here's the full match report.
"This mentality is unbelievable - I've rarely experienced anything like it," rejoiced Granit Xhaka afterwards. Alonso, meanwhile, spoke of a "special night at the BayArena, that we'll remember for a long time". Analysing the match, the Spaniard said: "We started well but then lost control somewhat. It wasn't easy to come back after conceding two goals. You can't train things like that, it's the belief of the team and every single player in themselves. Now we're just glad to be in the next round."
The Bild newspaper headlined their report with the words "Schick madness in stoppage time", and went on to write: "They just can't lose! Schick equalised at 2-2 from Grimaldo's cross and crowned the madness with his goal to make it 3-2 in the seventh minute of stoppage time." The Rheinische Post went with the headline "Schick rescues Leverkusen's run - yet again" and described a "surprisingly difficult task". And the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger spoke of a "spectacular victory".
One of the central figures for the men in black and red was undoubtedly two-goal hero Schick. Having come off the bench on the hour mark, the striker scored his fourth and fifth goals in this season's competition in added time, continuing his impressive form in the Europa League: Schick has scored all five of his goals in the last four UEL games. The Czech also netted the late equaliser in the first leg in Baku.
There was also a milestone on this spectacular European evening at the BayArena: Amine Adli, who operated as a left wing-back against Qarabag, made his 100th competitive appearance for Bayer 04 - 24 of them in the Europa League.
The Werkself never gave up and pushed hard for the comeback. Alonso's side fired off 33 shots - the highest figure for a team in a Europa League fixture this season. The last time Bayer 04 came from two goals behind to win a Europa League game was in September 2018 against Ludogorets (also 3-2).
Leverkusen are also superior in the other key stats from the round of 16 second leg: 71% possession, 53% tackles won and a better pass completion rate (90%-74%).
The Werkself have one more Bundesliga match before the final international break of this season. On Sunday 17 March (kick-off 15:30 CET), Bayer 04 are away to SC Freiburg. The next home game is on Saturday 30 March (kick-off 15:30 CET) against TSG Hoffenheim.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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