Havertz inspires Leverkusen to Europa League last 16

Porto 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen (Aggregate: 2-5)
Goals: 0-1 Alario (13'), 0-2 Demirbay (50'), 0-3 Havertz (57'), 1-3 Marega (65')
Red cards: Soares (86')

Leverkusen took their 2-1 first leg win at the BayArena to Portugal in pole position to reach the last-16 of the Europa League for the first time since 2015/16 and just 10 minutes in, they had added an away goal to their tally. Havertz fed Lucas Alario on the Leverkusen left and the Argentine striker applied a clinical finish past countryman Agustin Marchesin. Although initially flagged for offside, VAR judged the Leverkusen forward’s movement, and the goal, perfectly legitimate. From there, the visitors saw out the remainder of the first half in full control.

Peter Bosz’s men put an exclamation point on the tie only five minutes into the second half. Havertz was quick to follow up Marchesin’s save from Moussa Diaby and the Germany international - wearing the captain’s armband following Lars Bender’s withdrawal at the break - put it on a plate for Kerem Demirbay to force home. Havertz’s stunning performance was rewarded with a goal shortly after as he swept home Diaby’s squared pass to make it 3-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Moussa Marega would claim a consolation for the hosts who then saw substitute Tiquinho Soares sent off. With Wolfsburg also winning at Swedish club Malmo to join Die Werkself in the last-16, Bundesliga clubs have now won an unprecedented eight out of eight matches in Europe over the past week and a bit.

• Alario was Bayer's top scorer in the Europa League last season, with four goals in seven appearances. The Argentine scored on his first appearance in this season's competition in the first leg, now has two in two UEL matches, and is on 10 for the campaign.
• Havertz’s goal was the fifth of his young career in the Europa League, while his two assists were his fourth and fifth.
• His first senior strike for Germany was also scored past Porto goalkeeper Marchesin, in Die Mannschaft's 2-2 friendly draw with Argentina last October.
• Leverkusen have won eight of their last eight games in all competitions. If only results from 2020 counted they would be second in the league behind Bayern.
• The Bundesliga outfit have advanced from each of their last six UEFA Cup/Europa League knockout matches having won the first leg.

Line-ups

Porto: Marchesin - Corona, Mbemba, Marcano (c), Telles - Otavio, Uribe (Pepe 46'), Oliveira, Diaz (Nakajima 29') - Marega, Ze Luis (Soares 64')
Unused subs: Costa, Aboubakar, Loum, Manafa
Out: -
Coach: Sergio Conceicao

Leverkusen: Hradecky - Tah, S. Bender (Dragovic 67'), Tapsoba - L. Bender (Weiser 46'), Amiri, Demirbay, Sinkgraven – Havertz, Alario, Diaby (Bailey 83')
Unused subs: Özcan, Baumgartlinger, Palacios, Bellarabi
Out: Aranguiz (illness), Volland (ankle)
Coach: Peter Bosz

FULL-TIME!

A resounding result for Leverkusen who won both legs in this last-32 tie. They're through to the last 16 and will discover their opponent tomorrow when the draw is made at 1pm CET. Wolfsburg are also through after their victories over Malmo. Eintracht Frankfurt play their second leg against Red Bull Salzburg tomorrow evening at 6pm after it was postponed today.

86' RED FOR SOARES

Needless, senseless and this should result in a lengthy ban for Tiquinho Soares. He and Tah challenge each other for a long ball into midfield and the Porto man blatantly elbows the Leverkusen defender in the face. The referee was straight on it to give him his marching orders.

85' BAILEY THROUGH

A chance for the Jamaican to add some gloss to this score as he's clean through, but Marchesin makes the save.

83' BAILEY ON

Fresh legs up top for Leverkusen as Leon Bailey replaces Moussa Diaby.

82' HANDBAGS

There's a scuffle down on the touchline and of course Pepe has to get himself involved. It's much ado about nothing and ends with him, Amiri and Porto boss Conceicao being shown yellow. The latter is suspended for the next European match, which looks like being next season.

80' CLOSE FOR MAREGA

The Porto goalscorer almost grabs a second as he drifts into space as a clearance is headed back into the box, but his touch is far too heavy and Hradecky is out to smother.

78' WE'RE NOT MEANT TO LAUGH...

Something for the home fans to chuckle about as the linesman is taken out by a sliding Porto player. There's few things more amusing than a referee on the floor.

WOLVES CRUISING

From one end of the continent to the other, Wolfsburg are 3-0 up in Malmo and 5-1 to the good on aggregate. They look certain to be in the pot for the last 16.

67' DRAGOVIC ON

Both Bender twins are now off the pitch as Aleksandar Dragovic replaces Sven in defence.

65' MAREGA GETS ONE BACK

Moussa Marega gets up high from an Otavio cross and powers a header beyond Hradecky to get Porto on the board. They'd need four more goals to advance.

61' GOOD DEFENDING

Porto aren't really in a position to be trying to walk the ball into the net, but it's what they try with Nakajima trying to tee up Marega for a tap-in, but Sinkgraven reads it and slides across to clear the danger.

57' HAVERTZ IN ON THE ACT!

Another goal on the break from Leverkusen. Havertz races away down the right before squaring to Diaby running into the box. He's thwarted again by Marchesin, but the ball comes straight back to him and he returns the favour to Havertz completely unmarked just right of the penalty spot and he taps it home. Game over surely.

50' DEMIRBAY DOUBLES IT!

Great counter from Die Werkself and they're now 2-0 up on the night. Demirbay picks out Diaby with a through ball, but his effort is blocked. It rebounds out to Havertz, though, who pokes it left to Demirbay, who finishes under Marchesin and move Leverkusen a step closer to the last 16.

46' KICK-OFF!

The hosts get the action going again in Porto. Both sides make a half-time substitution though. Mitchell Weiser is on for Lars Bender for Leverkusen after his yellow card. It's Pepe for Matheus Uribe on the other side, meaning a slight change in formation as they go three at the back.

HALF-TIME!

Peter Bosz will be pretty happy with those 45 minutes at the Estadio do Dragao. Alario’s goal has given Die Werkself a two-goal cushion on aggregate, while his defenders have rarely been troubled. In fact, Lukas Hradecky hasn’t had a save to make with Leverkusen now 45 minutes away from the last 16.

45' INTO ADDED TIME

There's four minutes to be added on. Most of that probably from the time needed to award Alario's goal.

WOLVES AHEAD

More good news for the Bundesliga in Europe: Josip Brekalo has scored for Wolfsburg in Malmo to put them 3-1 up on aggregate as well. Like Alario, he also scored in the first leg.

43' BENDER BOOKED

It's 3-1 to Leverkusen for goals, now 3-1 to Porto for cards as Lars Bender takes down Nakajima.

42' THIRD PORTO BOOKING

The hosts are racking up the cards tonight. Next to have his name taken is Uribe for a late challenge in midfield on Amiri.

40' OTAVIO HEADS WIDE

A quicker tempo now from the hosts as they push to get back into this tie. Winger Otavio gets up for a header in the box but can't direct it on target.

36' OLIVEIRA BOOKED

A hard tackle onto the ankle of Lars Bender sees Sergio Oliveira pick up the next card in quick succession. Referee Istvan Kovacs of Romania even has an extra word to point out how reckless that was.

33' ZE LUIS BOOKED

A late foul on Amiri earns the Porto striker the first card of the game.

29' NAKAJIMA ON

That is the end of Diaz as Shoya Nakajima comes on in a straight awap.

27' DIAZ DOWN

Porto try to break with a throw from goalkeeper Marchesin out to Luis Diaz, but the winger pulls up holding the back of his leg and it looks like his night is over.

25' BAYER IN CONTROL

Halfway through the first half and it's the Bundesliga club in the driving seat. With 54% possession and the only two shots of the game falling to Leverkusen, they can be pleased with proceedings so far.

13' ALARIO STRIKES!

Big, big goal for Leverkusen and it's a lovely finish from Lucas Alario, picked out by Havertz after peeling off to the left and curling the ball beyond Marchesin with his right foot. The linesman's flag originally ruled out the goal, but a VAR check then confirmed there was no offside.

The Argentina has now scored in both legs and Porto now need two goals just to take this tie to extra-time.

6' WERKSELF FORWARD

Moussa Diaby, the second-fastest player ever recorded in the Bundesliga, has a chance to stretch his legs for the first time with a ball over the top. He cuts it back looking for Alario, whose touch goes back to the winger but in an offside position.

3' PORTO PUSHING

A positive start from the hosts who need to score this evening. Sergio Oliveira drills a shot across goal from the right but it's straight into the pouch of Lukas Hradecky.

1' KICK-OFF!

We're underway in Porto with the sun just setting in northern Portugal. Bayer have a 2-1 lead to defend in this second leg.

HERE COME THE TEAMS AT THE DRAGAO

This is Leverkusen's first match against Porto at their famous Estadio do Dragao home. In fact it's only the second competitive meeting between these two UEFA Cup winners. Bayer are unbeaten in their last two visits to Portugal against capital clubs Sporting and Benfica.

NEW TRIO FOR WERKSELF

It’s three changes from Peter Bosz to the team that started Sunday’s 2-0 win over Augsburg. Captain Lars Bender and Daly Sinkgraven replace Mitchel Weiser and Wendell in the wing-back roles, while Kerem Demirbay comes into midfield for Exequiel Palacios. Lucas Alario continues in attack with Kevin Volland likely out for the season.

ONE CHANGE FOR PORTO

Sergio Conceicao has made just a single change from the team that beat Portimonense 1-0 on Sunday. It comes in attack with Ze Luis switching in for Tiquinho Soares. That is one of two differences from the side that started the first leg loss in Leverkusen. The other sees winger Otavio replace Wilson Manafa, with Jesus Corona dropping back into the right-back position. Defender Pepe is back on the bench following a leg injury that's seen him miss most of 2020.

BUNDESLIGA DOMINANCE

It’s been an outstanding nine days for the Bundesliga in Europe with all six teams in the Champions League and Europa League winning their first-leg fixtures. It’s now time for the first of the second legs as Leverkusen look to get the job done against Porto following their 2-1 win at the BayArena a week ago. Wolfsburg take the same advantage to Malmo in their last-32 tie at the same time. Eintracht Frankfurt’s match in Salzburg has been postponed until tomorrow because of a storm.

The DFL will also announce tomorrow whether Frankfurt’s match at Werder Bremen on Sunday will also be postponed because the Eagles would only have one day between games.