Xabi Alonso is likely to leave the Champions League stage soon after entering as a coach. After the 0: 3 (0: 1) against FC Porto on Wednesday, his new club Bayer Leverkusen is about to be eliminated in the European premier class. In just two weeks at Atlético Madrid, the desired entry into the round of 16 for the Rhinelanders could have been done prematurely. Goals from Galeno (6th minute) and Mehdi Taremi (53rd/54th, penalty kicks each) in an unfortunate game for Leverkusen caused the first defeat in Bayer’s still short Alonso era.
With only three points from four games, the only thing that will help Leverkusen, who started the season disastrously in Madrid and against FC Brugge, who have already qualified for the knockout stage, is victories and support. Leverkusen is currently last in Group B behind Bruges (10), Porto (6) and Atlético (4).
Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt also suffered a painful defeat in the premier class. The team of head coach Oliver Glasner lost 2: 3 (1: 3) at the English top club Tottenham Hotspur. About a week after the 0-0 in the first leg, the Hessians are threatened with an early end at the premiere in the premier class.
The outstanding ex-Bundesliga professional Heung-Min Son scored two goals (20th minute/36th), England international striker Harry Kane also scored (28th). Daichi Kamada (14th) scored Frankfurt’s lead in front of around 60,000 spectators, Faride Alidou (87th) scored the late goal with a man down. Tuta (60th) had previously seen yellow-red. Frankfurt is now fourth and last in Group D.
Only the German record champions continued to march through the group phase with confidence. Bayern won 4: 2 (4: 0) at Viktoria Pilsen in the Czech Republic and achieved their fourth win in the fourth game of the premier class season. A week earlier, Bayern had defeated the same opponent 5-0. Sadio Mané (10th), Thomas Müller (14th) and Leon Goretzka (25th/35th) scored in Pilsen. Adam Vlkanova (62′) and Jan Kliment (75′) reduced the lead for the hosts after the break. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team now leads the table in Group C with twelve points and is early in the round of 16.
The substitution of Müller, on the other hand, caused concern. The national player had to leave the field immediately after the 3-0. He missed two games due to a corona infection. Nagelsmann wanted him to play at least one half to get practice for Sunday’s top game in the Bundesliga against second-placed SC Freiburg.
Jürgen Klopp is about to reach the round of 16 with Liverpool FC. The English won at Glasgow Rangers 7-1 (1-1). Roberto Firmino (24th minute, 55th) scored twice for the Reds after Scott Arfield (17th) gave the Scottish record champions the lead. Darwin Núñez (66′) increased before substitute Mohamed Salah (75′, 80′, 81′) made it all clear with a hat-trick. It was the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history. Harvey Elliott (87th) scored the final score.
Behind SSC Napoli (12 points), who have already qualified for the round of 16, Liverpool (9) have the best chance of progressing in Group A with two games left. Rangers (0) are only fighting for third place, Ajax Amsterdam (3) still has a small theoretical chance of second place.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski initially saved FC Barcelona from the first major disappointment of the season. The 34-year-old scored late against Inter Milan to make it 3-3 (1-0) – in a home defeat, the Catalans would have been eliminated from Group C early. Former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembelé (40′) had put Barcelona ahead but Inter turned the game around in the second half after goals from Nicolo Barrella (50′) and Lautaro Martinez (63′). Lewandowski’s equalizer to make it 2-2 (82′) only lasted briefly because Robin Gosens (87′) scored. However, Lewandowski headed the final score (90.2), goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen saved the important point with a world-class save.
FC Brugge and SSC Napoli are in the round of 16 early. In the Bayer Leverkusen group, a 0-0 draw at Atlético Madrid was enough for the Belgian soccer champions Bruges to make it into the top 16 for the first time in the club’s history.
In Group A, Napoli won 4-2 (2-0) against Ajax Amsterdam at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. With their fourth win in four games, coach Luciano Spalletti’s team qualified early for the round of 16.
