Round of 16 entry in danger
Alonso also experienced Bayer’s weakness in penalties
10/12/2022 10:59 p.m
Last week, Gerardo Seoane had to resign from Bayer Leverkusen because the Bundesliga club also lost to FC Porto after a missed penalty. Now the Champions League history is repeating itself. For Seoane successor Xabi Alonso, the coaching debut in the premier class ends bitterly.
Cold shower for the new hope: Bayer Leverkusen suffered a bitter bankruptcy when Xabi Alonso made his coaching debut in the Champions League. The Werkself lost 3-0 (1-0) against the relentlessly efficient FC Porto and are very concerned about reaching the round of 16. “It just hurts extremely, of course we made mistakes, but this is not a game that we have to lose 0: 3,” said Bayer central defender Jonathan Tah on DAZN.
Galeno (7′) and Mehdi Taremi with two penalties (53’/64′) scored for the Portuguese champions, who celebrated their second win against Bayer a week after the first leg win. Kerem Demirbay missed a penalty kick (16′) for Leverkusen, who then missed the best chances and acted defensively undisciplined.
With three points and being bottom of the table, the Alonso team is doomed to win the final two group games to make it through to the knockout rounds. Atlético Madrid and FC Brugge, who have already qualified, are waiting.
“Hopefully it will be the first of many games in this competition. Of course it’s special,” Alonso said before the game – but the Champions League quickly presented itself from its particularly unpleasant side. Porto striker Galeno snatched a long ball down the left, strolled past Odilon Kossounou and threw a deliberate low shot past Lukas Hradecky in the Bayer goal.
Adli hit not recognized
Bayer was by no means shocked and received a penalty a little later after a foul on Mitchel Bakker – but Demirbay failed with his weak attempt on Porto keeper Diogo Costa. Patrik Schick missed a penalty last week in the 2-0 defeat in the first leg that cost Alonso’s predecessor Gerardo Seoane the job.
Leverkusen, tirelessly driven by Alonso on the touchline, remained the better team afterwards. The conspicuous Bakker elicited the first goal cry from the sold-out BayArena – but Costa directed his attempt to the side netting (34′). Shortly thereafter, the fans cheered again too early, because Amine Adli’s goal was denied recognition according to video evidence because Schick had deflected the shot with his upper arm (35th).
The hosts also had the first chance in the second half: Adli’s free shot was cleared by Fabio Cardoso in dire need before the guests struck again a little later. Taremi converted a clumsy penalty kick caused by Adli. Shortly thereafter he scored again from the point – this time Kossounou had fouled.
The hosts also missed a few good opportunities afterwards: Callum Hudson-Odoi hesitated too long, and shortly afterwards Schick narrowly missed.