Patrik Schick double completes incredible Leverkusen fightback against Qarabağ in Europa League
Substitute Patrik Schick scored twice in added time as Bayer Leverkusen completed a remarkable comeback against Qarabağ to advance to the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals whilst extending their unbeaten run this season to 37 matches.
Wary of their slow start in the first leg a week ago, when they were two of goals down in the first half, Leverkusen began on the front foot in the return encounter as they looked to edge ahead in the tie following their impressive comeback in Baku. Borja Iglesias spurned a couple of opportunities early on at the BayArena, while Edmond Tapsoba saw a goal-bound header blocked. The one-way traffic continued as Amine Adli was denied by ex-Bayer custodian Andrey Lunev in the Qarabağ goal. Despite the home fans delighting in their team playing at a relentless pace, it did have an unintended consequence, with Jonas Hofmann limping out of the contest early to be replaced by Exequiel Palacios. At the other end, Juninho - who netted on the first-leg - kept things interesting for the visiting fans with a shot that was diverted away by Odilon Kossounou.
Sticking to their task after the restart, B04 conjured another chance when Iglesias found Palacios who struck just wide of the upright. Adli's subsequent effort suffering a similar fate meant that Leverkusen were always susceptible to a sucker punch from their opponents. And so it proved. When Qarabağ launched a quick-fire counter-attack, Abdellah Zoubir was there to head in Leandro Andrade's centre. Home hopes were raised thereafter when Elvin Jafarguliyev was sent off for the visitors, but astonishingly, Qurban Qurbanov's men netted a second, Juninho connecting with Marko Vešović's cross for 2-0. However, Jeremie Frimpong converted from substitute Álex Grimaldo to give Leverkusen a lifeline they took in dramatic fashion, with Schick scoring twice in added time to send the home supporters into raptures, and Xabi Alonso's treble contenders into the quarter-finals.
Match stats
Schick is now Leverkusen's top scorer in Europe this season with five goals.
Grimaldo has 24 goal involvements in all competitions in 2023/24 (11 of his own, plus 13 assists).
Leverkusen are unbeaten in a German record 37 competitive fixtures this season.
The first-leg draw ended Leverkusen's run of six straight Europa League victories, which included a pair of wins over Qarabağ.
Die Werkselfhave scored 104 goals in all competitions this term, the third-most in Europe's top-five leagues behind just Liverpool and Manchester City.
Qarabağ have lost eight of their 10 UEFA competition meetings with Bundesliga clubs.
Absolutely amazing! Scenes inside the BayArena! Patrik Schick has scored AGAIN in stoppage time to save Bayer's bacon. Insane. It's 2-2 and we're heading for extra time!
The striker just fails to make contact with the cross and Qarabağ survive.
71'
Leverkusen back in it
A huge roar inside the ground as Jeremie Frimpong nets a hugely important goal for Leverkusen. Grimaldo, who else, with the assist. Xabi Alonso's men are back in touch against the ten men of their opponents. A grandstand finish awaits.
Just when it seemed that red card might come to Bayer's aid, the hosts have fallen further behind to a Juninho goal. It's suddenly gone very quiet inside the BayArena.
Grimaldo, with 11 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, is on. Schick also enters the action, with Borja Iglesias and Hincapié hooked. Leverkusen need a goal just to force extra-time...
Grimaldo and Schick are getting ready to come on for Leverkusen...
54'
Animated
Alonso is barking orders and gesticulating towards his players. This has not been vintage Leverkusen by any stretch.
51'
Save!
Hincapié wins his header from a corner, but it's straight at Lunev. The whistle then sounds for a foul against the Leverkusen defender.
49'
Wide!
Palacios takes a ball on the chest in the box, before unleashing a volley that whistles just past the upright.
46'
Here we go again!
No changes at the break. Can unbeaten Leverkusen find another gear?
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Half-time! Leverkusen 0-0 Qarabağ (2-2 on agg.)
No goals, despite those early chances for Leverkusen. Will Alonso turn to Grimaldo and Schick in the second half?
Half-time
45'
Added time
Two additional minutes at the end of the first half as Lunev's poor clearance gifts possession to Adli. He plays it back to Wirtz, but there's an offside flag. Huge let-off for the visitors, with the path to goal clear.
42'
Warning shot!
Juninho runs at the Leverkusen defence, before getting off a shot that Hincapié is able to deflect into the side netting. The resultant corner comes to nothing, but that's food for thought for Alonso in the Bayer dugout.
All square
Despite Leverkusen's probing, it's still 2-2 on aggregate. A reminder that if we don't get a winner on the night, the tie will go to extra-time.
Kovář looks long for Wirtz, who drifts in off the right and tries to find Frimpong. Julio Romao gets a touch, though, and the visitors can clear.
31'
Standing firm
The runaway Azerbaijani league leaders have responded well to that early wave of Leverkusen pressure. They're defending in numbers and trying to break forward whenever Alonso's team lose possession.
28'
Hofmann forced off
Hofmann's back on the turf - he's pulled something. Alonso responds quickly by sending on Exequiel Palacios.
Hofmann was moving gingerly for a moment, but is going to try and run this off. He's been lively so far.
21'
One-way traffic
Leverkusen continue to control the play, but they're not quite overwhelming the opposition as they were to start with.
16'
Adli!
Adli combines with Frimpong to open the Qarabağ defence, but his shot is too close to ex-Leverkusen keeper Lunev. It's surely only a matter of time before the home team get a goal...
14'
Twelfth man delight
The Leverkusen fans are making a right racket, willing their team on and showing their appreciation for such an eye-catching start.
10'
Rinse and repeat
Qarabağ have their backs to the wall as Tapsoba has a goal-bound header from a corner blocked. Hincapié gets up to the ensuing delivery, but a white shirt gets in the way. Adli then heads off target with the next effort.
8'
And again!
Hofmann feeds Iglesias, who's thwarted by Lunev in the Qarabağ goal. This is relentless from Leverkusen - they want to put this to bed early...
6'
Close!
Leverkusen attack again with Borja Iglesias. He collects Hofmann's pass, before shooting over. Qarabağ can't live with this electric Bayer start...
3'
Chance!
Borja Iglesias on the turn in the box, but he can't find the target. That would have been some start!
1'
Under way at the BayArena?
Can Leverkusen extend their unbeaten start to the season to 37 competitive matches and reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the second year in a row?
Kick-off!
Freiburg crash out
Leverkusen's opponents this coming weekend will not be in the quarter-final draw. Despite winning their first leg against West Ham, they were beaten 5-0 in London just now.
More on that Leverkusen team
Alonso names first-team regulars Jonathan Tah, Exequiel Palacios and Álex Grimaldo among the substitutes. Odilon Kossounou, Robert Andrich and Amine Adli come in. There are also starts for Jonas Hofmann and Borja Iglesias, while Jeremie Frimpong returns from a domestic ban.
It shouldn't be forgotten that Xabi Alonso's men beat Qarabağ twice on the way to a 100 per cent record in the group stage this season. The Werkself triumphed 5-1 at home against the Azerbaijani champions on Matchday 3 while Victor Boniface netted a 94th-minute penalty to secure the Bundesliga team a 1-0 victory on Matchday 4.
This time last year Bayer ousted Ferencváros to reach the Europa League quarter-finals, a feat Xabi Alonso's men will hope to repeat against Qarabağ this evening. Tonight's hosts even went on to make it to the tournament's last four last time out, narrowly losing to Roma for a place in the showpiece.
0:53
Wizard Wirtz top again
Florian Wirtz has been named the Bundesliga's Player of the Month for February! It's the third time the attacking maestro has collected the gong. Hats off to that man.
Alonso's view on Qarabağ
“The first leg last week was very tough for us. Qarabağ will fight again tomorrow, and we have to do the same till the end. We need the right balance between stability and tempo in our own game. We need to give everything on the pitch. And if we do that, then we’ve got a better chance of progressing.”
“The appeal is perhaps a bit higher than normal in decisive games like this. If things go badly, we’re out and there’s no chance to put it right. But I’m confident we’ll go into the game with focus and feel well prepared. We won’t underestimate Qarabağ and want to give our best, like in every game.”
Arguably the closest the Werkself have come to losing their hot streak was in Baku last week. Two goals down in the Azerbaijani capital before late goals from Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick kept hopes of European glory well and truly alive.
Leverkusen can make it 37 games without a loss if they avoid defeat on Thursday. Xabi Alonso’s team have stolen all of the headlines across the world of football with their winning formula which sees them 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga as well as continuing their run in the DFB Cup and this Europa League match-up.
Nathan Tella and Florian Wirtz found the net as Leverkusen extended their long unbeaten run and preserved their 10-point advantage over Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Hello and welcome!
Thank for joining us ahead of the Bayer Leverkusen v Qarabağ second leg in the UEFA Europa League's last 16 on Thursday.
