BAKU: Patrik Schick headed Bayer Leverkusen level in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw at Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday, extending their unbeaten run to 35 games.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost this season but needed to come from 2-0 down in their last 16 clash in Azerbaijan.
The home side, who Leverkusen beat twice in the group stages, were two goals to the good at half-time through strikes from Yassine Benzia and Juninho.
Alonso made eight changes to his starting XI as his team, who are 10 points clear in the Bundesliga, continue to fight on all fronts in three competitions.
Staring down the barrel of a first competitive loss since May 2023, the coach shuffled his deck in the second half.
Florian Wirtz pulled a goal back with 20 minutes remaining via a deft chip, just 12 minutes after being brought on.
Schick, another of Alonso’s replacements, also levelled things up 12 minutes after coming on, heading in a Robert Andrich pass in the second minute of stoppage time.
The draw, just Leverkusen’s fifth from 35 matches this season alongside 30 wins, ensures Alonso’s side have the advantage for next week’s return leg in Germany.
Schick snatches late draw to keep Leverkusen’s unbeaten run alive
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Schick snatches late draw to keep Leverkusen’s unbeaten run alive
- Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost this season but needed to come from 2-0 down in their last 16 clash in Azerbaijan
- The home side were two goals to the good at half-time
Yamal penalty rescues Barca from defeat at Newcastle
- The Liga champions still have work to do when the sides meet again on March 18, but will leave Tyneside relieved after a sub-par performance from Hansi Flick’s side
NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Lamine Yamal’s penalty with the last kick of the game rescued Barcelona from defeat at Newcastle in a 1-1 Champions League last 16, first leg draw on Tuesday.
The Magpies were headed for a night to savour at St. James’ Park when Harvey Barnes opened the scoring on 86 minutes.
Yamal had been a peripheral figure but showed the composure of one of the world’s best players from the spot after Dani Olmo was tripped by Malick Thiaw deep into stoppage time.
The Liga champions still have work to do when the sides meet again on March 18, but will leave Tyneside relieved after a sub-par performance from Hansi Flick’s side.
Newcastle’s bid to make the quarter-finals for the first time was dealt a blow before kick-off when Anthony Gordon was forced to start on the bench due to illness.
Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more than Gordon’s 10 Champions League goals this season and the England international’s threat was badly missed as Newcastle a[pplied early pressure.
Eddie Howe had billed this game as the biggest in the club’s history and the desire to make amends for a FA Cup exit to Manchester City and a dissapointing Premier League season showed.
Howe made a bold choice with Gordon’s replacement as William Osula came in at the expense of club record signing Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa up front.
Osula’s pace troubled Barca’s high defensive line early on, but Newcastle’s best attempt to break the deadlock before half-time came from a corner.
Joan Garcia spilled his attempt to save Sandro Tonali’s header and needed to be rescued by a goal-line clearance from Pau Cubarsi.
The home side continued to press for a breakthrough in the second period.
Anthony Elanga should have picked out Barnes for a simple finish when his low cross was cut out by Garcia.
It took nearly 70 minutes for the visitors to create a clear sight of goal when Robert Lewandowski prodded wide from Raphinha’s cross.
That was Lewandowski’s final act as he was replaced by Marcus Rashford, who scored twice when the sides met at St. James’ Park in the League Phase.
Howe also turned to his bench in search of a winner with Gordon among those introduced.
The offside flag came to Barca’s aid when Joelinton thought he had opened the scoring after Barnes struck the post.
The visitors’ desire just to see the game out at 0-0 was evidenced when Ronald Araujo tried to hold up play by rolling back on the field after going down injured.
Italian referee Marco Guida refused to let the Uruguayan defender immediately back onto the field and Newcastle took full advantage as Barnes was unmarked at the back post, where Araujo should have been, to convert Jacob Murphy’s cross.
Much of Newcastle’s fine work was undone by one mistake as Thiaw flicked out a leg to bring down the jinking Olmo inside the box.
Yamal coolly sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way to leave Newcastle needing heroics in the Camp Nou next week to reach the last eight.
