Bayer Leverkusen nearly had their record-extending unbeaten streak this season come to an end at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium as they left it late to salvage a draw against Azerbaijani side Qarabag.
The Bundesliga title hopefuls went into the game on the back of a 34-match unbeaten streak that has seen them close up on winning their first Bundesliga title, winning the German Cup, and also reaching the last 8 of the European second-tier.
It was the third meeting between the two sides who were in the same group in the group stages of the competition. Bayer Leverkusen completed a Europa League double over Qarabag in the group stages but it was a difficult encounter in the knockout tie on Thursday night.
The hosts went into the lead in the 26th minute after Juninho set up Benzia, who fired into the top-left corner.
Bayer Leverkusen ramped up their attempt to find an equaliser but were dealt a heavier blow at the stroke of the break when Juninho, who assisted the first goal, got himself on the scoresheet to double the lead.
They had got out Bayer Leverkusen on a counter and had Juninho come one-on-one with Kovar before chipping the ball over the goalie.
Xabi Alonso’s side were shockingly trailing 2-0 at the break as Qarabag pulled a solid performance to sink the visitors.
Alonso made a series of early substitutions which twisted the trajectory of the game in the second half with Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jeremy Frimpong coming on.
Twelve minutes after coming on, Florian Wirtz brought Bayer Leverkusen back into the game after he latched on a wayward back-pass and chipped it over Qarabag goalkeeper Lunev.
Qarabag were close ending Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run before another Bayer Leverkusen substitute Schick headed home Andrich’s cross from close range to equalise at the stroke of the end in the 90+2nd minute.
It ended 2-2 at the blast of the final whistle with Bayer Leverkusen securing their unbeaten run and maintaining a decent advantage going into the second leg next week.
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