New unbeaten record: Bayer Leverkusen saves super series and moves into the EL semi-finals

New unbeaten record
Bayer Leverkusen saves super series and moves into the EL semi-finals

April 18, 2024, 10:56 p.m

Thanks to a draw at West Ham United, Bayer Leverkusen is in the semi-finals of the Europa League. The German soccer champions completely slept through the first half, but caught themselves in the second. In the end, the result from the first leg is enough. This means the Werkself remain unbeaten in their 44th game – a record.

Xabi Alonso made his way to Jeremie Frimpong in the rain in London and patted him appreciatively on the shoulder, then the successful Bayer Leverkusen coach once again showed his celebratory fist. Thanks to a late goal from substitute Frimpong, the Werkself’s impressive winning streak was maintained; after a 1-1 (0-1) draw at West Ham United, the new German champions moved into the semi-finals of the Europa League – where they will play against AS Roma.

“We have to be very proud of ourselves for what we have achieved here,” said midfield boss Granit Xhaka on RTL: “We didn’t do well in the first half, but the important thing is that we stayed together. It shows the character Mentality that we play such a perfect second half after a weak half.”

The European Cup hangover almost followed the championship frenzy – but the Leverkusen team could once again rely on their last-minute qualities. With his late goal, Frimpong (89th) ensured that Leverkusen have now been unbeaten in 44 competitive games, a series like this has never been seen in the European top five leagues. Bayer surpassed Juventus Turin’s twelve-year-old record. Nevertheless, Leverkusen delivered one of the weakest performances this season. Michail Antonio (13th) punished the Werkself, who were erratic for long stretches, and only hit back late.

Frimpong first forgives, then strikes

At the championship party on Sunday, “a few” of the large beer glasses were drunk, “but not too many,” Alonso revealed in advance with a wink. The Spaniard, who made six substitutions compared to the Bremen game and brought Florian Wirtz back from the start, was not afraid of a loss of tension.

However, it seemed as if the Werkself were impressed by the backdrop of the massive 2012 Olympic Stadium in their first game as champions. Leverkusen fired the first warning shot through Nathan Tella (11th), but after that only the team from east London, which had swept over SC Freiburg like a hurricane in the previous round (5-0), played.

Antonio shocked the guests with his head – and caused even more uncertainty at Bayer. European Cup goalkeeper Matej Kovar didn’t look good when conceding the goal, but he was there when West Ham had the best chance of scoring the second goal through top scorer Jarrod Bowen, who had been injured in the first leg (25′).

Leverkusen came up with nothing offensively in an extremely wild game in which the assistant coaches of both teams were shown the red card in the middle of the first half. Wirtz remained pale and a series of attacks rolled towards the shaky Werkself defense. After half an hour, Alonso replaced the weak and already booked Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba replaced him.

Frimpong and Victor Boniface also came into play in the second half, but Bayer initially remained in defense mode. Once again it was Bowen who stole the ball from the shaky Piero Hincapie, but couldn’t find a taker on his cross (60th).

Only as the game progressed did the guests occasionally find their way into the opposing penalty area. Frimpong caused danger with an unsuccessful cross (66th). In addition, Leverkusen was much more stable in the final phase and took away West Ham’s offensive momentum. Frimpong (83′) missed Bayer’s best chance late on, then he struck.