Bundesliga
Goals from Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella took defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen directly through to the UEFA Champions League last 16 with victory over Sparta Prague.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Sparta Praha
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz 32' (assist: Frimpong), 2-0 Tella 64'
Leverkusen's brilliant start to this season's Champions League meant that last week's loss to Atlético Madrid failed to dent home ambitions of a place in the round of 16 as one of the tournament's top-eight teams. Beat Sparta, and the reigning Bundesliga champions would be almost assured of that very outcome. By contrast, the visitors knew their European hopes were already extinguished after five-straight losses in European club football's elite competition, no matter the outcome at the BayArena. That Xabi Alonso's men were the team with something to play for was evident throughout a first half that the Werkself dominated. Former Sparta youth player Patrik Schick and midfielder Granit Xhaka threatened, before Wirtz took over. Leverkusen's No.10 drew a flying stop from Peter Vindahl in the visiting goal, but the Danish custodian could do nothing when last term's Bundesliga Player of the Season expertly found the corner following some superb running by Jeremie Frimpong soon afterwards.
Along with Schick, Leverkusen keeper Matěj Kovář also had history with Sparta, the Czech international previously enjoying a loan spell with Lars Friis's side. At the start of the second half, the 24-year-old was thwarting his former team with a fine save against Victor Olatunji. The next time the pair faced off, Olatunji almost got the better of Kovář who, off his line, watched a lob from the Nigerian bounce agonisingly wide. Aware that they had slipped into a pattern of giving up leads again of late, the 2023/24 double winners duly sparked back into life and they put daylight between themselves and their opponents not long after the hour mark. When Álex Grimaldo's free-kick popped over the wall and was parried by Vindahl, Tella was there to sweep home the rebound and set Bayer on their way into the last 16.
Teams
Leverkusen: Kovář - Mukiele, Tah (c), Tapsoba - Frimpong (Arthur 88'), Xhaka, Palacios (García 83'), Grimaldo - Tella (Andrich 83'), Wirtz (Hofmann 90') – Schick (Stepanov 90')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Lomb (GK), Hawighorst, Onyeka, Alajbegović
Out: Adli (broken leg), Belocian (cruciate ligament), Boniface (not included), Hincapié (suspended), Terrier (Achilles)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Sparta: Vindahl - Vitík, Ševínský, Sørensen (c) - Wiesner (Suchomel 86'), Sadílek, Kairinen, Zelený (Krasniqi 90+3') – Laçi (Daněk 85') - Olatunji (Haraslín 67'), Birmančević (Penxa 90'+4)
Unused subs: Surovčík, Heerkens, Ross, Panák, Rus
Out: Cobbaut (unconfirmed), García de Albéniz (knee), Preciado (knee), Rrahmani (muscular), Tuci (unconfirmed)
Coach: Lars Friis
As it happened!
We'll have four minutes added time here.
A Sparta corner is watched all the way by Birmančević, who can only bundle the ball over the crossbar.
From a tight angle on the left, the Spain international digs out a shot that Vindahl manages to block after spreading himself.
Bayer 04 are in cruise control now. Another fine build-up ends with Wirtz firing wide. Should have been a corner, but the referee missed Wirtz's shot taking a nick of the defender.
The Swiss midfielder is shown a yellow for a shove.
Grimaldo's free kick from the edge of the area goes over the wall, is parried by Vindahl and Tella is there on the follow up to divert home the rebound.
Olatunji sweeps the legs from under Florian Wirtz and that's a booking for the Sparta man.
Grimaldo has a pop at the target but that's relatively straightforward Vindahl .
Xabi Alonso's men are on the ball once more and looking to dictate proceedings here.
The Nigerian races onto a ball over the top and spots Kovář a long way off his line. The Nigerian striker lifts the ball over the Bayer keeper, who looks on in relief as the shot bounces narrowly wide.
Kovář is forced into his first save from Olatunji, who got ahead of Tapsoba before firing low at the target.
Frimpong runs at the the Sparta defence, but finds trouble. He lays off for Wirtz to blast over.
The Czechs have won a couple of corners at the start of this second half, but have not been able to make use of either.
The second half is on in Leverkusen.
Bayer 04 knock the ball all the way across the goal, with Wirtz eventually teeing up Grimaldo. The Spaniard lets fly and looks on as Vindahl tips over.
Another promising attack from the Bundesliga champions, with Wirtz menacing in the middle before feeding Tella on the far side. His shot is high and wide of the target.
Tella gets to the back stick to meet a looping corner but he can only find the side-netting with his header.
Frimpong leads a stunning attack down the right and makes it all the way into the Sparta area. The Dutch flyer pulls a pass across to Wirtz, who finds the corner with a smart finish.
Frimpong's shot appears to catch Ševínský's arm, which is above his shoulders. The referee points to the spot but after a check on the monitor, the official sees that the ball came off Ševínský's head. On we go ...
Vindahl has just pulled off a superb, flying one-handed save to deny Wirtz, whose shot looked destined for the top corner.
Wiesner sends a header well wide of the upright as the visitors enjoy a rare foray forward.
Leverkusen have enjoyed a couple of decent opportunities in the past few minutes, with Palacios having a shot saved by Vindahl and then Wirtz sending an effort from distance wide.
As things stand, Leverkusen are in 12th position in the live table and outside the automatic qualification spots for the Round of 16.
Shick bends and heads off target under pressure from the Sparta defence. That's the Czech's first opportunity of the night.
Vitík saves Sparta with a clearance off the line following a Leverkusen corner that curled right towards goal.
The Czech side are content to sit in here and wait to hit the hosts on the break.
The hosts are going for it in these early stages, with Schick and the Xhaka having efforts that failed to make it home.
The Dutch full-back quickly gets into the visiting area and tries a few step-overs before rolling the ball across the area. Sparta clear.
The action in underway at the BayArena.
Bayer 04 and Sparta make their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch ... here we go!
Both sides are going through the final phases of their respective pre-match warm-ups at the BayArena. We're edging ever closer kick off ...
Kovář - Mukiele, Tah (c), Tapsoba - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - Tella, Wirtz – Schick
Hrádecký, Lomb (GK), Hofmann, Andrich, Arthur, García, Hawighorst, Stepanov, Onyeka, Alajbegović
Vindahl - Vitík, Ševínský, Sørensen (c) - Wiesner, Sadílek, Kairinen, Zelený – Laçi- Olatunji, Birmančević
Surovčík, Heerkens, Suchomel, Ross, Daněk, Haraslín, Panák, Krasniqi, Rus, Penxa