Werkself through to quarter-finals with 2-0 win in Budapest

The Werkself played in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation at the Puskas Arena. Xabi Alonso made three changes to his starting eleven compared with the 3-2 win at Werder Bremen: Edmond Tapsoba came into the defence in place of Odilon Kossounou, Florian Wirtz replaced Amine Adli, and the Spanish coach opted for Sardar Azmoun up front in place of Adam Hlozek.

early strike from diaby

The Werkself were straight out of the blocks on an impressive stage: Three minutes after the kick-off, Moussa Diaby received the ball from Tapsoba and went on a long run that included him leaving his opponent Mats Knoester standing. With his usual pace, the Frenchman broke through on the Ferencváros goal and succeeding in slipping the ball through the legs of the keeper Denes Dibusz into the far corner for the lead at 1-0. The first big chance of the game for the hosts came from Amer Gojak on 22 minutes: The ball was deflected to the feet of the playmaker leaving him with a one-on-one with Lukas Hradecky but the skipper produced a brilliant reflex save to keep out the shot with his right foot.

Leverkusen were – with the exception of the move involving Gojak – very solid at the back in the first half with no other clear-cut chances for the opposition. The Black and Reds again and again created promising opportunities through good passing play with Jeremie Frimpong going close from a tight angle and the following corner ended up with a header from Tapsoba but he was unable to find the back of the net (33'). Ferencváros created one of their two most dangerous chances again with a deflection seven minutes from half-time. Adama Traoré hit the crossbar. The Werkself took the 1-0 lead into the half-time break.

Adli seals win for superior werkself

The Alonso team started the second half looking for another goal. The following minutes brought real chances for the visitors: With 50 minutes on the clock, Tapsoba, as with the opening goal, fed Diaby who cut inside and played the ball to his teammate Mitchel Bakker. An opponent then intervened at the last second. They carried on two minutes later with a long ball from Exequiel Palacios to Bakker who crossed for Frimpong in the box. The Werkself number 30 tucked the ball into the net but referee Artur Dias ruled the strike out for Bakker being offside in the build-up. An impressive passing move ended with a Diaby shot being blocked and, seconds later, Sardar Azmoun had a chance that the Ferencváros keeper Dibusz just managed to save (56'). A minute later, Diaby hit the outside of the post. But fresh legs ensured the victory was sealed.

The impressive Diaby saw substitute Amine Adli on the left on 81 minutes and the Frenchman scored with his eighth touch of the ball for a deserved 2-0 scoreline. Nothing else happened after that. The Werkself are deservedly through to the quarter-finals in the Europa League. The draw for the last eight takes place tomorrow Friday 17 March from 13.00 CET.. 

FC Bayern visit the BayArena

After a short breather, the Alonso team return to league action: The Werkself will complete a training session in Budapest on Friday before flying back to the Rhineland. Saturday will see a training session in Leverkusen with final preparations for the next challenge for Lukas Hradecky and Co. on Sunday 19 March: The Black and Reds entertain league leaders Bayern Munich on Bundesliga matchday 25. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 17.30 CET.

Match stats:

Ferencváros: Dibusz – Wingo (Marquinhos 13', Lisztes 90'), Knoester, Abena, Civic – Vecsei, Esiti – Zachariassen, Gojak (Manner 78'), Traoré, – R. Mmaee (Frederiksen 90')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie (Kossounou 81')– Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 81'), Palacios, Andrich (Demirbay 86'), Bakker – Diaby, Wirtz (Adli 70') – Azmoun (Hlozek 70')

Goals: 0-1 Diaby (3’), 0-2 Adli (81’)

Booked: Cherchesov (coach)

Referee: Artur Dias (Portugal)