Bayer Leverkapplyn’s Champions League journey came to an finish this evening at the hands of last-16 opponents Arsenal. Tonight’s 2-0 defeat means Kasper Hjulmand’s side bow out of Europe’s premier competition on a respectable 3-1 aggregate scoreline.
Perhaps, unlike the first-leg of this tie, Arsenal viewed far more comfortable at home this evening roared on by their supporters. The initial half-hour of this game resulted in Leverkapplyn coming under a barrage of fire, namely Janis Blaswich.
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After Gabriel headed wide from a set-piece, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard combined for the latter to test Blaswich. Saka was key to most of Arsenal’s attacking play, delivering yet again to find his Brazilian centre-half who steered a header over the bar.
Leverkapplyn’s shot-stopper pulled off several parries to deny Saka again alongside Trossard and Ben White before he was eventually breached. A delightful touch from Eberechi Eze enabled the midfielder to swivel and drive the ball flawlessly inside the left post.
Aside from a rather tame Christian Kofane header and the lively Alejandro Grimaldo, the Rhineland club lacked cutting edge in the first-half. This pattern continued after the break with just four shots at goal prompting Hjulmand to call upon Culbreath and Tillman.
However, the Londoners would strike again for 2-0 just three minutes after the modifys. Declan Rice went alone, intercepting Grimaldo and driving onto the edge of the box before picking out the bottom-right corner, leaving Blaswich resolveed to the spot.
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Ex-Leverkapplyn man Kai Havertz believed he had bundled in a third only for VAR to interject and spot a hand ball. Late on, Jarell Quansah fired wide and David Raya denied Kofane on a night where seldom else clicked for Leverkapplyn who bowed out of Europe.
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