Bayer Leverkusen secured a place in the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Sparta Prague.
Xabi Alonso’s side successfully avoided the play-off round after goals from Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella saw off the Czech champions.
Leverkusen – without striker Victor Boniface who has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia – dominated from the start but did not test visiting goalkeeper Peter Vindahl until the 25th minute, when the Dane brilliantly tipped Wirtz’s effort behind.
LET’S GO FLO! ✨🪄
38′ | 1-0 | #B04acsparta #UCL pic.twitter.com/O0OefHXQSY
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 29, 2025
The hosts thought they had a penalty just before the half-hour mark but the referee reversed his handball decision after replays showed the ball hitting Jaroslav Zeleny’s head.
But Leverkusen were soon celebrating. Jeremie Frimpong drove down the right in the 32nd minute and picked out Wirtz to stroke home his sixth Champions League goal of the campaign.
The Bundesliga champions, who may have had one eye on goal difference in the hectic battle for a top-eight finish, pushed forward for a second.
Nordi Mukiele had a fierce shot blocked after a brilliant Wirtz run and Alejandro Grimaldo’s drive was tipped over by Vindahl.
Victor Olatunji forced Leverkusen keeper Matej Kovar into his only save early in the second half and then saw his attempted lob go wide of the target as Sparta looked to avoid a sixth straight European defeat.
But Leverkusen wrapped up victory in the 64th minute when Tella turned home the rebound after Grimaldo’s free-kick was parried by Vindahl.
