Bayer Leverkusen qualifies for Europa League 'Final 8'
Bayer Leverkusen has qualified for the Europa League 'Final 8', which will take place next week in Germany, after defeating Glasgow Rangers 1-0 (4-1 aggregate) on Thursday in the second leg match played at BayArena in Leverkusen.
The German team, who had one foot in the next round after winning 3-1 in Glasgow in March before the competition was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, once again prevailed at their stadium, this time with only one goal scored by Frenchman Moussa Diaby at the start of the second half (51st minute).
In the quarterfinals, Leverkusen will face Inter Milan, who eliminated Getafe on Wednesday, in one of the most attractive match-ups.
The match will take place on Monday, August 10th in Düsseldorf. The tie seemed sealed after the first leg and Leverkusen came out determined not to leave any room for surprises: they took control of the ball from the beginning of the match and despite not scoring in the first half, they had numerous opportunities and, most importantly, they didn't struggle in defense.
The young German star Kai Havertz (16' and 22'), Diaby (33' and 38'), Lars Bender (39'), and Florian Wirtz (42') failed to beat Allan McGregor before the break.
The resistance of the team coached by the legendary Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard ended at the beginning of the second half, when Chilean Charles Aránguiz saw Diaby make a diagonal run, passed him the ball, and the forward, who was developed at Paris SG, beat the Scottish goalkeeper. (D)