The draw means Leverkusen qualify for the Europa League and Brugge finish second in their group due to Porto beating Atletico in the other match in Group B. The draw for the next round of the competition will be held on Monday, November 7th.
The first half was very evenly fought as both sides defended well and could not break the other down. Leverkusen's only shot on goal in the half came from Diaby after he was played through by Hudson-Odoi. The winger tried to shoot across the goal but Mignolet pulled off a great diving save. Brugge also had one shot on target after Sowah tackled Palacios in his own half and fired a low effort at goal. Hradecky got down well to save the effort and keep the game level going into the break. Both teams then hit the crossbar in the second half, the closest they each came to scoring. Buchanan smashed the woodwork in the 47th minute after a cross from Sobol while Schick’s header was tipped onto the bar by Mignolet from a corner. Neither team managed to score with the game ending 0-0.
90' + 3' FULL TIME: BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-0 CLUB BRUGGE
90' + 2' Adli darts in behind the Brugge defence but his shot toward the near post is too high and misses the target.
90' There will be a minimum of three additional minutes.
90' Hoefkens is signalling to his players that he wants them to stay high up the pitch rather than drop deep.
A. Hložek
P. Schick
89' Hlozek comes on for Schick, who has had a very quiet game.
88' Both teams are not willing to take risks as it seems despite time running out to find a winner.
R. Yaremchuk
Ferran Jutglà
86' Yaremchuk replaces Jutgla to lead the Brugge frontline.
C. Nielsen
Yellow Card
84' Nielsen is shown a yellow card by the referee after a poor sliding challenge on Amiri.
84' Tapsoba and Adli combine in the Brugge box but the latter cannot reach the final pass from the defender to have a shot at goal.
D. Boyata
Yellow Card
82' Boyata goes into the referee's book as he fouls Schick from behind.
81' CROSSBAR! Mignolet tries to catch Demirbay's corner but he drops the ball onto Andrich, who hits the crossbar with his shot! The referee then blows his whistle as he believes Mignolet was fouled.
C. Larin
E. Sobol
79' Larin comes on for Sobol as Brugge look to find a late winner in this game.
78' Sowah receives the ball and tries his luck from 30 yards out, but his effort is miles over the bar. His manager is not happy.
A. Adli
M. Diaby
76' Adli replaces Diaby in the attacking third of the pitch for Leverkusen.
N. Amiri
C. Hudson-Odoi
76' Hudson-Odoi comes off the pitch for Amiri.
73' Demirbay takes an out-swinging corner and finds Andrich. The midfielder heads the ball straight into the hands of Mignolet.
71' The tempo of the game is very slow at the moment and it is not favouring the wingers on either team, making it difficult for them to attack.
69' Leverkusen are being very patient in their build-up play as they wait for an opening in the Brugge defence.
A. Skov Olsen
N. Lang
67' Skov Olsen replaces Lang in the front three for Brugge.
67' Brugge are struggling to string a few passes in the final third and they are giving the ball away in very sloppy fashion.
65' Brugge relieve some of the pressure on their goal after Kossounou handles the ball and gives away a free-kick.
R. Andrich
Yellow Card
63' Andrich receives a yellow card following a high challenge on Lang.
61' Leverkusen break forward and Bakker goes down in the box following a challenge from Boyata, but the referee is not interested in giving the hosts a penalty.
59' Andrich is very unhappy with the referee after being penalised for a foul on Sowah. He believes he did nothing wrong and is telling the official.
57' Hudson-Odoi – who scored against Atletico last time out – has created more chances (seven) and made more successful take-ons (seven) than any other Leverkusen player in the Champions League this season. He has also made three key passes tonight.
55' SAVE! Schick rises highest to win the header from Demirbay's cross, but Mignolet makes a great save onto the crossbar!
53' Demirbay wins the ball high up the pitch and finds Andrich, who plays Hudson-Odoi into a good position. The England international tries to play Diaby in on goal but the pass is slightly ahead of his team-mate.
51' Bakker curls the ball into Hudson-Odoi, who leaves it for Schick, but the striker and winger are not on the same wavelength and Brugge walk away with possession.
49' Lang wins a corner and takes it short with Sobol. The latter's cross is cleared to Buchanan outside of the box and his shot flies well over the bar.
47' CROSSBAR! Sobol drives in a low across the face of goal and it goes through to Buchanan on the right side. The wing-back strikes it first-time and smashes the bar!
46' Diaby gets the second half underway for Leverkusen.
K. Demirbay
E. Palacios
46' Demirbay replaces Palacios in the Leverkusen midfield at half-time.
Both sides are struggling to break the other down, largely due to the numbers in the defensive line. The wide areas will be key for the two sides if they either want to win this game as going through the middle does not seem to be the right option at the moment.
The first half was very evenly fought as both sides defended well and could not break the other down. Leverkusen's only shot on goal in the half came from Diaby after he was played through by Hudson-Odoi. The winger tried to shoot across the goal but Mignolet pulled off a great diving save. Brugge also had one shot on target after Sowah tackled Palacios in his own half and fired a low effort at goal. Hradecky got down well to save the effort and keep the game at 0-0 going into the break.
45' + 1' HALF-TIME: BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-0 CLUB BRUGGE
45' There will be a minimum of one additional minute.
E. Palacios
Yellow Card
43' Palacios receives a yellow card for a late challenge on Nielsen.
41' Brugge are looking stronger at the end of this half as they try to break the deadlock before the break.
39' SAVE! Sowah catches Palacios sleeping on the ball and tackles him in the attacking third. He moves the ball onto his left foot and fires a shot at goal, but Hradecky does well to get low and stop the shot.
38' Hudson-Odoi drives into the Brugge box and tries a few body feints to open up and angle to shoot at, but it is to no avail and Brugge clear the ball away from danger.
E. Sobol
Yellow Card
36' Sobol receives the first booking of the game after he catches Diaby with a late sliding challenge.
35' Bakker tries to beat Buchanan to the ball near the byline but the Brugge player is too quick and draws a foul.
33' SAVE! Hudson-Odoi plays Diaby in and the France international shoots across the goal, but Mignolet makes a great diving save!
32' Meijer tries to play Lang in behind the Leverkusen defence with the powerful pass down the left wing, but Kossounou gets to the ball first.
30' Leverkusen do well at the back to play around the Brugge press. They break into the opposition half and lose the ball soon after.
28' Sobol swings in the free-kick and puts it into a good position, but Leverkusen clear the ball away.
27' Lang wins a free-kick in a good position for Brugge after Frimpong fouls him during an aerial battle.
25' Lang whips in a cross from the right side and finds Meijer. The defender cannot direct his header to the goal and chance goes away.
23' Diaby sends an in-swinging cross toward Schick in the box but it is overhit and Mignolet catches it.
21' Leverkusen are trying to overload the wide areas to break into a position where they can cross the ball, but Brugge are defending the play well.
19' Vanaken tries to find Sowah with the lofted pass but Andrich intercepts the pass. Both sides are struggling in the final third here.
17' Brugge are yet to concede away from home in the Champions League this season, beating Porto 4-0 and drawing 0-0 at Atletico. The Belgian side could keep three consecutive clean sheets away from home in the competition for the first time.
15' It is a very even game right now with neither side able to get a hold on this game and dominate, even for a small spell of time.
13' Kossounou loses the ball in his own half and Brugge break forward. Sowah receives the ball on the right wing, cuts inside and shoots, but he cannot test Hradecky with his effort.
11' Lang is back on his feet following treatment from the physios and play continues.
10' Lang is down and receiving treatment for a head injury.
9' The hosts are slowly growing into this game and obtaining more possession as the minutes tick by.
7' Leverkusen are defending well at the moment and look dangerous on the counter-attack with the pace of Diaby and Hudson-Odoi.
5' Leverkusen are refusing to drop deeper when out of possession and the game is taking place primarily in the middle third of the pitch as Brugge look to break the hosts down.
3' Brugge are settling on the ball first and moving it around with patience as Leverkusen press them high up the pitch.
1' Jutgla gets the game underway for Brugge!
The players are making their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch!
Brugge goalkeeper Mignolet has only conceded four goals in the Champions League this season, despite having faced an expected goals on target total of 9.1. Indeed, based on the quality of shots he has faced, Mignolet has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in this season’s competition (five).
Alonso makes six changes from his side’s defeat on the weekend as Kossounou, Frimpong, Palacios, Bakker, Schick, and Hudson-Odoi all start. Carl Hoefkens only makes two changes to his starting 11 from his team’s 4-2 win over Oostende as Sobol and Lang come in for Nusa and the suspended Onyedika.
SUBS: Antonio Nusa, Andreas Skov Olsen, Cyle Larin, Roman Yaremchuk, Lynnt Audoor, Senne Lammens, Cisse Sandra, Kyriani Sabbe, Jorne Spileers.
Club Brugge (3-4-3): Simon Mignolet; Eduard Sobol, Brandon Mechele, Dedryck Boyata; Tajon Buchanan, Hans Vanaken, Casper Nielsen, Bjorn Meijer; Kamal Sowah, Ferran Jutgla, Noa Lang.
Club Brugge are top of Group B and have already secured a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. If they win or equal Porto’s result tonight, they will finish top of their group for the first time in a single edition of the tournament.
Leverkusen are currently bottom of Group B and out of the competition after failing to win any of their last three games in the Champions League. A win for Xabi Alonso’s side tonight could see them qualify for the Europa League if Atletico Madrid fail to beat FC Porto in the other game in the group.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge.
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