EUROPA LEAGUE: A MISSING OPPORTUNITY FOR FREIBURG, LEVERKUSEN TOPS PERFECTLY
Freiburg falls short in their Europa League quest, West Ham secures top spot
A disappointing outcome for SC Freiburg saw them miss the chance to secure a direct place in the last 16 of the Europa League, thanks to a passive performance against West Ham United F.C. The Bundesliga club limped to a 0-2 (0-2) defeat, ultimately requiring a round about detour via the intermediate round due to the away defeat.
Freiburg and head coach Christian Streich had been extremely excited to partake in the Europa League adventure, but their aspirations were dampened by the Londoners, following a two-goal lead in the first leg. The victory for West Ham United, however, was no fluke - they thoroughly exploited the passivity of their opponents.
Although Freiburg started the game brightly, inherently supported by over 3,500 fans, it was the English Premier League side who responded with more purpose. Lucas Paquetá saw an attempt hit the crossbar (5'), while Nicolas Höfler managed to get a goal for the visitors (1st).
Freiburg's lackluster performance in the final third combined with their mistakes in defense, saw Mohammed Kudus (15th) and Edson Álvarez (42nd) score to give West Ham a comfortable lead before the break. The, then, required a win to topple Freiburg from the top spot, but instead emerged victorious - securing the Group win.
Leverkusen's rotated squad successfully navigates Euros glory with Schick return
With six wins across the Europa League Group stage, Bayer Leverkusen became the first club in three years to achieve a perfect preliminary round. The completion of this impressive streak was capped off by Patrik Schick, returning to the starting lineup after 408 days, in what was a B-team goal-fest against Molde FK, with Leverkusen securing a 5-1 (3-0) victory.
Xabi Alonso consistently rotated the squad during this Group stage, rotating ten positions compared to their Bundesliga team - a testament to the depth of his squad. The shift in personnel did not negatively affect their performance, remaining dominant in a relatively unglamorous group.
Goals came from Patrik Schick (6th), Edmond Tapsoba (22nd), and Adam Hlozek with a double strike (60th/71st), while Molde scored a curious own goal from Anders Hagelskjaer (25th), and eventually secured a third-place finish in the conference league.
Although Bayer Leverkusen have not fared well in previous seasons with similar records, their current dominance has raised hopes they could potentially break the curse and emerge as Champions.
The Europa League Group stage enthralls and disappoints in equal measure
The Europa League Group stage unearthed a mix of revelations and disappointments. Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham United F.C. emerged triumphant, while SC Freiburg's aspirations of a deep Champions League run were dashed.
As the competition moves forward, expectations around the performances of the teams remain high, with a large following eagerly anticipating the continued journey of these teams in the Europa League.
Did you know?
- Bayer Leverkusen have won a league title in 1993, and have been increasing their strength in recent seasons, finishing within the top 4 in the Bundesliga for several years now.
- West Ham United F.C. have a rich history in English football, having played in a number of FA Cup finals over the years, but having never managed to claim the elusive trophy.
- SC Freiburg, although a relatively smaller club in Germany, have gained a strong foothold in the Bundesliga and have been enjoying a successful run in recent seasons.
- The Europa League was first introduced in 2009, replacing the UEFA Cup (which was in effect since 1971). The competition has been a platform for many teams, especially those out of the Champions League, to compete on a European stage.
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