Bayer Leverkusen completed the Europa League group stage with a 5-1 rout of Norwegian club Molde on Thursday to remain unbeaten across all competitions this season.
The Bundesliga leader finished as the only team with a perfect record in Europe’s second-tier tournament with six wins from six in Group H after conceding just three goals and scoring 19.
Patrik Schick and Edmond Tapsoba scored and Martin Ellingsen’s own goal made it 3-0 before halftime in Germany. Adam Hlozek added two more in the second half for Xabi Alonso’s team.
Leverkusen extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games, which includes 14 in the Bundesliga. The team also has won three matches to reach the quarterfinals of the German Cup.
Qarabag took second place in the group for a spot in a Europa League knockout stage for the first time after a 2-1 win over Hacken.
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Leverkusen, Premier League leader Liverpool and Atalanta had already qualified for the round of 16 before the final round of games.
The eight group winners earn a direct place in the last 16 whereas finishing in second only gets a team a playoff match against the clubs that drop into the Europa League as third-place finishers in Champions League groups.
Union Saint-Gilloise handed Liverpool a 2-1 loss at a game played at RSC Anderlecht Stadium in Brussels. With the job in the group done, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fielded the youngest starting lineup in a European match with an average age of 22 years and 156 days.
Among them, teenager Kaide Gordon made his first senior start since January 2022 and Curtis Jones captained the squad.
Mohammed Amoura’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Jarell Quansah, but Cameron Puertas restored a one-goal advantage in the first half.
The Reds still retained first place in Group E, one ahead of Toulouse and won 2-1 at LASK.
Roma beat Sheriff 3-0 but José Mourinho’s team finished second in Group G and will have to play another round of games in February.
Romelu Lukaku scored his fifth goal of the tournament to put Roma ahead 11 minutes into the game at Stadio Olimpico. Andrea Belotti doubled the lead in the 32nd minute and Niccolo Pisilli scored in second-half stoppage time.
Slavia Prague secured the top spot with 15 points, two more than Roma, after a 4-0 victory over Swiss club Servette. Mojmír Chytil scored two goals and David Douděra and Ivan Schranz added one apiece.
In a direct encounter for the top place in Group F, Villarreal took home a 3-2 victory from Rennes and a place among the last 16. Daniel Parejo scored the winner in the 80th minute.
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