Match Info – Bayer Leverkusen vs Ferencvarosi Highlights – 2023-03-09
Bayer Leverkusen ended Ferencváros’ impressive 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions with a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League last 16 tie.
Ferencváros’ struggles in UEFA Europa League away games continued as they conceded an early goal due to some sloppy play, which was capitalized on by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Kerem Demirbay, with Demirbay firing his side into the lead with an emphatic finish, leaving the Hungarian champions with an uphill battle to come back into the game.
Ferencváros continued to push forward despite conceding an early goal, and were unlucky not to equalize immediately when Kristoffer Zachariassen hit the bar with a deft ball from Bálint Vécsei, and then almost conceded again on the stroke of halftime when Kerem Demirbay failed to direct his shot on target, having already scored once for Bayer Leverkusen.
5 – Florian Wirtz has either scored or assisted in each of his last five starts for Bayer Leverkusen (2 goals, 4 assists). Wunderkind. pic.twitter.com/RJineXhAo7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2023
Ferencváros were under pressure to come back in the second half after conceding a goal before halftime, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances, while Bayer Leverkusen had a chance to extend their lead with Florian Wirtz once again involved, but he missed the target with a shot across the face of the goal.
Bayer Leverkusen managed to overcome their winless home run in Europe with a cautious but effective display against Ferencváros, who lacked urgency to equalize and paid the price when Edmond Tapsoba scored from the rebound of an Adam Hložek free-kick, potentially ending the tie for the Hungarian side, who had a nightmare start to their first-ever post-group stage venture in UEFA competition.
