Bayer Leverkusen wins the Europa League opener against NK Celje 2-0

Bayer Leverkusen started the Europa League with a home win despite poor conversion of chances. In their first international appearance under their new coach Carles Martínez, the Werkself beat Slovenian football champions NK Celje 2-0 (1-0) and celebrated their first success at the start of the eight-game league phase.

847 days after their last appearance in this competition - the 3-0 final defeat against Atalanta Bergamo in the double season under Xabi Alonso - Leverkusen took the lead with an own goal from Svit Seslar (15th minute) in front of 27,945 spectators in the unsold BayArena. In the second half, Facundo Medina (74th) made the decision.

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With Andrich from the start: Leverkusen gets off to a powerful start

Martínez made six changes to the starting line-up compared to the 2-2 draw in Augsburg. Among other things, former captain Robert Andrich was rotated into the starting lineup. Ibrahim Maza, who was ill, was missing, as was top transfer Guéla Doué, who Leverkusen announced 90 minutes before kick-off as being out for a long time due to a calf injury.

Wearing a special black jersey with the TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen coat of arms, which commemorates their only UEFA Cup title in 1988, the hosts immediately took command. Patrik Schick (9th) put his first shot past the goal from a slightly too tight angle. Three minutes later, Edmond Tapsoba tested Celje goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban with a header.

Own goal puts Leverkusen in the lead

It only took another three minutes until Bayer 04 rewarded themselves for the powerful opening phase with the opening goal. After a corner from the left, Aleix Garcia crossed into the penalty area, where Celje midfielder Seslar tried to clear the ball, but unfortunately hit it and deflected it uncontrollably past his own goalkeeper for an own goal into the right corner.

After half an hour, Celje became dangerous for the first time in its first duel with a Bundesliga club and at the same time its premiere in the Europa League. After the first long period of possession, Benjamin Verbič broke through on the left of the penalty area, but was denied twice by Mark Flekken - to the disappointment of the 50 or so visiting fans who had traveled with him.

Flekken is also required

Leverkusen remained under pressure, but when they had good opportunities they lacked the necessary precision or were denied by the goalkeeper. Shortly before the break, the guests, who had released their coach after a sporting decline on Monday and were looked after by Zoran Zeljkovic for the first time, even had the chance to equalize. Flekken directed a header past the left post.

Even after the restart, the picture remained unchanged: the Werkself played dominantly, but acted too poorly in the final third. When Medina had a great chance, goalkeeper Leban was there again (52'). Despite having a lot of ball possession, the favored Leverkusen team seemed unfocused in this phase and the game was increasingly slipping away.

A quarter of an hour before the end, a corner from Aleix Garcia made it 2-0. His cross from the right side landed at the second post, where Medina was in the right position and sent the ball straight into the goal. Leverkusen will play the second game of the league phase on October 15th at Lech Poznan.