Thursday, September 30, 2021
Better not “Wirtz”
Bayer handles Celtic in “Paradise”
Slowly “Wirtz” scary: Youngster Florian Wirtz scores for Bayer Leverkusen in the sixth game in a row. At Celtic Glasgow and in front of a breathtaking backdrop, his team won the second three in the Europa League in a brisk game and thus the table lead in Group G.
Bayer Leverkusen has opened the door to the knockout round in the Europa League. The team of coach Gerardo Seoane won on the second matchday at the Scottish top club Celtic Glasgow with 4: 0 (2: 0). With their second win, the Werkself consolidated their lead in Group G with six points.
New entry Piero Hincapie (25th) with his first goal in a Bayer dress and young star Florian Wirtz (35th) scored in the first half for Leverkusen. Lucas Alario (58th) with a converted hand penalty and Amine Adli (90th + 4) ensured the final score in “Paradise”. This is the popular name of the Celtic Park.
“We want to move into the knockout round and take another step on Thursday. We are well prepared,” Bayer Sports Director Simon Rolfes confidently told SID before departure on Wednesday. Newcomer Robert Andrich could not start the trip due to an infection. Bayer implemented Rolfes’ request in front of almost 60,000 spectators in the notorious Celtic Park. But Lucas Alario’s supposed quick opening goal didn’t count because of an offside position (1st).
Wild start European top football liveYou can see all the highlights from the Europa League and Europa Conference League on TVNOW. Eight live games and two conferences. Everything framed by MATCHDAY, the big game day show.
You can see all the highlights from the Europa League and Europa Conference League on TVNOW. Eight live games and two conferences. Everything framed by MATCHDAY, the big game day show.
In the hectic opening minutes, national player Jonathan Tah, who prematurely extended his contract to 2025 on Wednesday, saved in return with an excellent tackle in dire need. After the next corner Callum McGregor narrowly missed Bayer captain Lukas Hradecky’s goal.
Both teams looked for the way forward and quickly bridged the midfield. But Celtic created the better chances. Tom Rogic shot from the rotation just over the bar (15th), then Hradecky saved twice against Kyogo Furuhashi (19th) and Carl Starfelt (20th).
That should take revenge from the point of view of the Scots, because Bayer became more grippy and dangerous. After a great pass from the strong Wirtz, winger Moussa Diaby found his master in the former England goalkeeper Joe Hart (24th). A minute later, Hart was defeated when Hincapie made use of a gross blunder by David Turnbull and Mitchel Bakker’s cross pass from close range. Before the break, Wirtz, who scored in the sixth competitive game in a row, increased.
After the break, the team from Leverkusen were able to thank Hradecky, who saved the Werkself from unnecessary tension with further parades that were well worth seeing against fighting Glaswegians. Bayer was canceled by the time the Italian referee Marco Di Bello took the penalty after Cameron Carter-Vickers blocked a Paulinho shot with his hands.