Wait worth it as Leverkusen advances in Champions League
Wait worth it as Leverkusen advances in Champions League
Published: 11:41 am Nov 23, 2016
MOSCOW: Bayer Leverkusen qualified for the Champions League knockout stages after a 1-1 draw away to CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, but the German club had a nervous wait before knowing it had advanced. Kevin Volland gave Leverkusen the lead in the 17th minute from close range after he was left unmarked at a free kick. Leverkusen gave away a needless penalty with Benjamin Henrichs' clumsy challenge on Mario Fernandes, but Bibras Natcho's 76th-minute spot-kick wasn't enough to keep the fourth-placed Russian team's hopes of qualifying alive. Leverkusen was assured of qualifying after Monaco beat Tottenham 2-1 later Tuesday. Monaco has won Group E with 11 points. Leverkusen has seven points and Tottenham four, but Spurs has a worse head-to-head record with Leverkusen. CSKA is last with three points. Leverkusen remained unbeaten, but had to settle for a fourth draw of the group stage after Volland hit the post in the 80th. CSKA could have stolen a win a minute later, but the tired midfielder Alan Dzagoev, playing for the first time since September due to injury, missed the target. CSKA was playing with a diminished squad, with 18-year-old Fyodor Chalov making his European debut up front and just four outfield players as substitutes, none of them midfielders. Financial concerns kept the Russian team's squad small even before recent injuries and a suspension last week for midfielder Roman Eremenko, who tested positive for cocaine following the 2-2 draw with Leverkusen in Germany in September. It is the fourth season in a row that CSKA has failed to qualify from the group stage, and the Russian champion has not won any of its last nine games in Europe's top competition.