Bundesliga
Leverkusen reach Europa League round of 16
Bayer Leverkusen reached the UEFA Europa League round of 16 after beating Monaco on penalties at the end of an absorbing play-off tie.
Monaco 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen (5-5 on agg, Leverkusen win 5-3 on penalties)
Goals: 0-1 Wirtz 13' (assist: Frimpong) , 1-1 Ben Yedder (pen. 19'), 1-2 Palacios 21', 1-3 Adli 58' (assist: Wirtz), 2-3 Embolo 84' (assist: Diatta)
Trailing 3-2 in the tie following defeat on home soil, Leverkusen survived an early scare when Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder drilled just wide of the post. Bayer’s riposte was immediate as Amine Adli drew a brilliant save from Bayern Munich loanee Alexander Nübel, before Florian Wirtz applied the finishing touch to Jeremie Frimpong’s cross for the opening goal. Ben Yedder levelled from the penalty spot after Edmond Tapsoba was adjudged to have fouled Salim Ben Seghir, but Leverkusen were back in front within five minutes, thanks to Exequiel Palacios' unerring strike from the edge of the area.
Staying on the front front after the restart, Xabi Alonso’s men forged ahead on aggregate when Adli headed Wirtz’s cross past Nübel. Ben Yedder responded with a fierce shot against the crossbar, before Bayer’s Mitchel Bakker had a goal ruled out for offside. Hlozek tickled the side netting and Lukas Hradecky kept Ben Seghir at bay in an edge-of-the-seat finale, with Patrik Schick thrown on in the final stages to help see the result over the line. However, a late headed goal from ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Breel Embolo forced extra time.
Bakker was denied by Nübel’s outstretched leg and Hradecky made a flying save to prevent ex-teammate Kevin Volland from firing in a dramatic winner. In the ensuing shootout, substitutes Sardar Azmoun and Nadiem Amiri put Leverkusen in control, before Eliot Matazo hit Ajax’s second spot-kick against the woodwork. Edmond Tapsoba, Schick and Moussa Diaby duly held their nerve as Bayer took their place in the last-16 draw alongside Bundesliga rivals and upcoming opponents Freiburg - and potentially Union Berlin.
Match stats
- Leverkusen are through to the Europa League round of 16 for the third time. The club's deepest run was to the quarters, in 2019/20, when they lost a one-legged tie 2-1 to Inter Milan.
- Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, 19-year-old Wirtz has been directly involved in 14 Europa League goals (seven goals and as many assists). The only teenager with more goal involvements in major European competition in that time is Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham (eight goals, six assists).
- Alonso oversaw his first win in UEFA competition as Bayer coach (D2, L2).
- Leverkusen's overall record against French opponents is: W9, D4, L8. Their last visit to face Ligue 1 opposition also ended in a 3-2 victory (vs. Nice in the 2020/21 Europa League)
- Nübel made one Bundesliga appearance for Bayern in 2020/21 and, prior to that, 46 appearances in the German top flight with Schalke.
- Volland scored 44 goals in 115 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen between 2016 and 2020.
Teams
Monaco: Nübel - Matsima (Diop 61'), Disasi, Sarr, Henrique - Diatta (Volland 110'), Fofana, Matazo (Camara 70'), Golovin (Boadu 78') - Ben Seghir (Jakobs 78'), Ben Yedder (c) (Embolo 78')
Unused subs: Didillon, Minamino, Akilouche, Magassa, Gelson Martins, Okou
Out: Vanderson (knee)
Coach: Philippe Clement
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Frimpong (Diaby 103'), Palacios, Andrich, Bakker - Wirtz (Azmoun 115') - Adli (Amiri 74'), Hlozek (Schick 70')
Unused subs: Pentz, Lomb, Kossounou, Demirbay, Hudson-Odoi, Fosu-Mensah, Azhil, Bellarabi
Out: Aranguiz (calf), Lunev (ineligible)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
As it happened
2 - 3(1 - 2)
Monaco
FINAL
Leverkusen
vs
Diaby scores!!!
That's it! Leverkusen are into the Europa League knockouts. Diaby's penalty is almost saved by Nübel but that ball clatters the keeper's gloves and bounces in. Moussa Diaby is B04's hero. 3-5.
vs
Volland scores
The former Leverkusen man beats Hradecky and Monaco pull to within one. 3-4
vs
Schick scores
Schick finds the corner with ease. 2-4
vs
Embolo scores
Cool, calm and collected from the ex Schalke and Gladbach man, who sends Hradecky the wrong way. 2-3
vs
Tapsoba scores
The B04 man wellies one straight up into the top corner. Super penalty. 1-3
vs
Matazo misses
The young midfielder clatters his penalty against the crossbar. Advantage Leverkusen. 1-2
vs
Amiri scores
Nübel guessed right but Amiri's penalty was perfectly placed in the corner. 1-2
vs
Disasi scores
The Monaco defender almost takes the net off the goal with a powerful spot-kick. 1-1
vs
Azmoun scores
Azmoun walks up and does one of those jumps before finishing style pens. Leverkusen lead.
vs
Azmoun to strike first
Leverkusen will take the night's first penalty
vs
Penalty shootout
There goes the full time whistle in extra time. Penalties it is for a place in the Europa League knockouts.
vs
Last-gasp Diaby
Diaby volleys into the side netting and that might well be that. Penalties here we come.
120'
vs
Jakobs
vs
So close Volland
Volland connects with a diving header and Hradecky pulls off a huge save to parry the effort out. The ex Bayer man had the tie in his hands there. Big relief for the visitors.
vs
Leverkusen change
One last throw of the dice for the visitors, who bring off the spent Florian Wirtz and throw Sardar Azmoun on.
116'
vs
Sardar Azmoun
Florian Wirtz
vs
Diaby on the move
Diaby is fresh, however, and the Leverkusen attacker blazes down the right, only to be forced out at a crucial moment.
vs
Weary warriors
Both sets of players are really feeling the strain of this now. It's been an energy sapping evening in the principality.
vs
Volland makes entrance
Ex Bayer Leverkusen favourite Kevin Volland is on in place of the injured Diatta.
110'
vs
Volland
Diatta
vs
Away we go ...
So, the second half of extra time is now underway. Are we to have a winner here or will this incredible tie go all the way to penalties?
vs
Half time in extra time
We head towards the second half of extra time with these two sides locked at 5-5 on aggregate.
vs
Diaby on
Moussa Diaby is in the mix now as the previously injured attacker replaces Frimpong, who has had a solid night.
102'
vs
Moussa Diaby
Jeremie Frimpong
vs
Palacios booked
Palacios topples Embolo and that's a free kick for the Monaco forward, plus a yellow card for the Leverkusen man.
98'
vs
Exequiel Palacios
vs
Matazo takes aim
Matazo's shot from the left is deflected over the top. The corner produces nothing.
vs
B04 start strongly
Two big chances for Leverkusen. Wirtz works Schick in for a shot, which is blocked. Bakker then storms through on the right and shoots low, only for Nübel to deflect wide.
vs
Extra time underway
Leverkusen get the first half of extra time up and running.
vs
Extra time ahead
The referee brings the 90 minutes to an end and with this tie standing at 5-5 on aggregate, we're heading for an extra 30 minutes.
90' +3
vs
Monaco denied
Diop had the ball in the net and the home fans thought the game was over. Jakobs failed to keep the ball in before striking his cross, however, and it doesn't count.
90'
vs
Added time
We'll have three minutes of time added on. Can either side find a winner?
89'
vs
Monaco searching
Embolo's late effort is deflected wide of the upright by Hincapie. The corner is dealt with by the visitors.
87'
vs
30 more minutes?
Extra time is looming. As things stand, we're set for an extended period. Monaco are edging this tie right now but the outcome is still up in the air.
83'
vs
Hosts draw level
A simple goal and Monaco are level on aggregate. Diatta's centre is met by an Embolo header that bounces up into the far corner.
80'
vs
Leverkusen closing in
Bayer have ten minutes to hold on for what would be a massive morale booster here after some rocky results of late. Can Xabi Alonso's men keep Monaco at bay for the closing stages?
79'
vs
Familiar foe
Monaco make a triple change and among those to come on is former Schalke and Borussia Mönchengladbach forward, Breel Embolo.
78'
vs
Embolo
Ben Yedder
78'
vs
Jakobs
Ben Seghir
78'
vs
Boadu
Golovin
73'
vs
Here comes Amiri
Another of those who was on target at the weekend, Nadiem Amiri, is given his chance to shine at the Stade Louis-II.
73'
vs
Nadiem Amiri
Amine Adli
72'
vs
Sloppy visitors
Leverkusen fall asleep in defence momentarily and Eliesse Ben Seghir is given the perfect opportunity to score, which he doesn't take. Hradecky is down to make a big save.
70'
vs
Schick on
Xabi Alonso throws Patrik Schick into the mix. Surely that's the last thing Monaco wanted to see. The Czech marksman was on target at the weekend in Mainz. Can he finish this tie off?
70'
vs
Patrik Schick
Adam Hložek
70'
vs
Matazo
Camara
69'
vs
Again they come
It's Hlozek's turn to have a go at goal and the Czech's low drive from just inside the box shaves the side netting. Mighty close.
68'
vs
B04 still attacking
A lovely move involving Wirtz, Bakker and Frimpong ends with the latter just blocked out at the last. Nübel grabs hold of the subsequent cross from the corner.
64'
vs
Andrich punished
Andrich upends Ben Seghir, who was in full flow. That's a booking for the Leverkusen midfielder.
First-leg report: Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Monaco
Goals: 0-1 Hradecky (o.g. 9’), 1-1 Diaby (48’), 2-1 Wirtz (59’), 2-2 Diatta 74’, 2-3 Disasi (90’+2)
Leverkusen made a relatively confident start as Moussa Diaby tested Bayern Munich-owned goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from range. However, an unfortunate slip from goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky whilst under pressure from ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Breel Embolo gifted Monaco the lead. Bayer were largely reduced to speculative efforts, until Nübel was called on to dive at the feet of Nadiem Amiri late in the first half. Monaco went on the offensive almost immediately, but Krepin Diatta could not find a way past Hradecky with a shot from inside the area.
Leverkusen had been uncharacteristically flat in the first 45, but whatever Xabi Alonso said at the half-time break worked. Florian Wirtz was the catalyst for a stirring - albeit brief - turnaround, with a fine ball out to Jeremie Frimpong, who cutback for Diaby to glide between two defenders and tuck between the legs of Nübel. The German teenager added a fabulous solo effort moments later, dancing past five defenders before firing beyond Nübel’s despairing dive. Diatta curled in a stunning equaliser to set up a grandstand finale in which Hradecky thwarted Ben Yedder and Adam Hlozek hit the woodwork, before Axel Disasi smashed in a last-gasp winner.