Victory for Leverkusen but Monaco win Group E
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
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Goals from first-time UEFA Champions League scorers Vladen Yurchenko and Julian Brandt helped Leverkusen beat Monaco 3-0, though the French side still won Group E ahead of their hosts.
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Still-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen won the Group E summit meeting in Germany though Monaco nonetheless finished a point above their hosts.
With both sides already through to the last 16, the night belonged to Leverkusen attacking midfielders Vladen Yurchenko and Julian Brandt, both of whom claimed their first goals in the competition.
After Morgan De Sanctis had saved from Javier Hernández, Yurchenko showed everyone how to finish by cutting infield and unleashing an exocet high beyond the keeper. It was the 22-year-old Ukrainian's maiden UEFA Champions League strike on his first appearance of 2016/17. De Sanctis's save from Aleksandar Dragović prevented an immediate second.
As it was, Brandt scored soon after half-time. When Hakan Çalhanoğlu slipped a pass in behind the centre-backs, the German international netted via a deflection over De Sanctis. And after the upright had denied Monaco's Corentin Jean, Leverkusen completed the victory as Wendell's penalty smashed the crossbar, hit De Sanctis and rolled back in.
Key player: Julian Brandt (Leverkusen)
If Yurchenko's first-half effort was brilliant, Brandt's goal was no less easy on the eye. It is hard to believe this is the 20-year-old's fourth UEFA Champions League campaign, but when you watch the midfielder in the flesh you would think he has been playing at this level for a decade. What a prospect.
Werkself make history
Not only was this Leverkusen's first home victory in the competition since September 2015, the win also ensured Die Werkself ended a UEFA Champions League group stage unbeaten for the first time. Given the quality in Group E, that achievement should not be underestimated. Most importantly, Roger Schmidt's men can now look forward to their first last-16 tie since 2014/15.
Reporter's view
Matthew Howarth (@UEFAcomMattH)
Leverkusen's starting XI will almost certainly look different come the round of 16, but I was impressed by some of the players Schmidt brought into his line-up. Ramazan Özcan was solid and assured in goal, while Danny Da Costa and Aleksandar Dragović shone with displays that belied their relative inexperience at this level. But Yurchenko, of course, stole the show with a strike of the very highest order.
