Leverkusen played the game where they wanted it most: high up the pitch. They owned 56% possession and logged 70 final-third entries to Celje’s 38, a steady stream that kept the visitors busy in their box. Touches in the penalty area told the same story at 29 to 11, and crosses came in waves, with Leverkusen hitting 8 accurate from 25 attempts. When they carried the ball, they were cleaner too, completing 12 of 17 dribbles compared to Celje’s 3 of 12.

Celje’s response was to defend deep and clear their lines. They finished with 32 clearances to Leverkusen’s 11 and a hefty 18 interceptions. That volume says a lot about the shape of the evening: one side probing, the other side reading and surviving. Even so, the visitors rarely escaped the press long enough to sustain attacks, winning only 25% of their dribbles in total and losing the duel share 55% to 45% overall. In this context, the 2-0 had a logical feel.

Shots, xG and the finishing picture

Leverkusen out-shot Celje 17 to 5 and put 8 efforts on target to 3. The expected goals landed at 1.93 to 0.90, with expected goals on target 2.06 to 1.57. That gap in chance volume and quality aligns with a two-goal cushion, even if Leverkusen’s finishing left a little on the table. The hosts hit the woodwork twice and missed five big chances, a reminder that the score could have grown.

Celje fashioned three big chances of their own but couldn’t convert, finishing with just five total shots. Mark Flekken’s sharp handling for Leverkusen contributed too, as he made three saves and posted 1.5688 goals prevented. On the other side, Leban’s seven saves kept this from turning into a rout. Factor in corner counts at 6 to 2 and shots inside the box at 11 to 4, and the balance of threat was clearly tilted toward the Bundesliga side throughout.

Set-pieces set the tone

Both goals arrived from dead-ball phases, which fits the pattern of pressure. The opener came on 15 minutes when Aleix García’s right-flank cross after a short sequence ended with Sešlar turning into his own net. It was the easy part of a difficult night for the midfielder, who otherwise carried well and battled in duels. Leverkusen built repeatedly down the sides and earned corners and throw-ins in numbers, with 25 throw-ins to Celje’s 9 adding territorial weight.

The second goal on 74 minutes underlined the theme. Again it was García crossing from a corner situation, and again Leverkusen attacked the delivery. Medina arrived to guide a left-foot finish high and central for 2-0. García’s supply line was a constant: 87 total passes at 77 accurate, 11 crosses with 4 on the money, and 4 key passes. Edmond Tapsoba (7.9) and Loïc Badé (7.8) controlled the back half of the pitch, while Lucas Vázquez (7.8) won plenty of duels before making way on the hour. In short, the 4-2-3-1 worked by stretching Celje and feeding a steady set-piece threat.

Leverkusen’s standouts by the numbers