lucky time Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Sparta Prague: Xabi Alonso's Side Safely Through To Last 16 In Champions League

Nathan Tella celebrates his goal against Sparta Prague. Nathan Tella celebrates his goal against Sparta Prague.

Goals in either half from Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella saw Bayer Leverkusen progress to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague. (More Football News)

The result sees Leverkusen finish sixth in the new 36-team standings, with the possibility of clash with either Manchester City, Celtic, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. 

Leverkusen dominated the opening exchanges and went ahead in the 32nd minute when Wirtz fired past Peter Vindahl after being picked out by Jeremie Frimpong. 

The Bundesliga champions spent much of the contest camped inside their opponents' half but were unable to add to their advantage before the interval. 

However, Tella grabbed the goal their performance merited just after the hour, finishing on the rebound after Alex Grimaldo's free-kick was parried by Vindahl. 

Visiting forward Victor Olatunji threatened to reduce the deficit as the second-half progressed, but Leverkusen were able to hold on to seal an important victory. 

"That was a difficult match, we got our chances but could not convert them, that's it. Then you can see it in the scoreline. It's a matter of homework,ph143" India's long-time goalkeeper Sreejesh said after the close defeat.

For Sparta, they drop out of the competition after a disappointing campaign, having claimed just four points from their eight games. 

Data Debrief: Home comforts

Leverkusen have impressed ever since Alonso arrived at the club in 2022, but their home form has been a key improvement under the Spaniard, none more so than in Europe. 

The Bundesliga champions have now won four consecutive Champions League home games for the first time, while they’ve also kept a clean sheet in four straight home matches in major European competition – their longest such run since May 1988 (five in the UEFA Cup).

Since the start of last season, no team have won more games than Leverkusen in major European competition (14 – level with Real Madrid and Liverpool). Meanwhile, only Barcelona and Real Madrid (48 each) have netted more goals than Alonso’s side (46) in the same period.

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And Leverkusen were worthy of their victory.  They attempted 26 shots against Spartalucky time, while only once on record (since 2003-04) have they had more in a Champions League match (29 v RB Salzburg in November 2024).