33-time Hungarian champions, 24-time Hungarian Cup winners and group winners of the UEFA Europa League in the 2022/23 season, our men's football team faced German top-flight Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Thursday 16 March at the Puskás Arena. Stanislav Cherchesov's side made two changes from the first meeting, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, with Endre Botka serving a yellow card ban and Henry Wingo starting for Endre Botka, and Amer Gojak replacing Marquinhos.The team was led by Dibusz - Wingo, Abena, Knoester Civic - Vécsei, Esiti - Zachariassen, Gojak, Traoré - R. Mmaee in a fantastic atmosphere in the Puskás Arena, which was packed with more than 50,000 fans.

First half

In the 3rd minute of the match, Diaby launched himself towards goal from deep in his own half, and with a low shot, he took the lead for his team's (0-1). In the 8th minute, after a cross from Traoré, Civic took a shot from the penalty area, but the ball just missed the goal. In the 13th minute we had to make a substitution: Wingo left the pitch due to injury, then Marquinhos came on and Zachariassen came back in as right winger. In the 19th minute we had a corner, but R. Mmaee's shot was off target. Three minutes later we had our best chance so far, Gojak was in position, but his shot into the middle of the goal was saved by Hradecky. Shortly afterwards Vécsei also had a go but shot over. Then Ryan Mmaee also opted for a long-range shot, but it was off target. In the 31st minute, Dibusz had to save Frimpong's shot from a sharp angle. In the 38th minute, we came close to equalising again, but after a spirited attack, Traoré's vital shot bounced off the crossbar. At the end of the first half, Wirtz's close range shot was saved by Dibusz. Although we had chances, the sides went into the break with a one-goal German lead.

Second half

Neither head coach made a substitution at the break. In the 50th minute, after Diaby's cross, Bakker was on target, but Zachariassen made a great save and we managed to free ourselves from the corner. In the 52nd minute, Frimpong found the net, but Bakker was on offside before he could shoot, and thus the goal was disallowed. Diaby then had a chance inside our penalty area, but Civic got in the way. Another Dibusz save came after the corner, our goalkeeper saved from the goal line. In the 57th minute Diaby hit the post. Six minutes later, Gojak got a good touch on the ball and headed towards goal, but his shot was off target. In the 71st minute we had our next chance, Abena headed just over after Civic's cross. Bakker then fired in a shot, Dibusz pushed wide. After the double substitution in Leverkusen, our young player Balázs Manner came on for Gojak. In the 81st minute Adli, who came on as a substitute, increased his team's lead (0-2). In the 90th minute Lisztes and Baden came on the field.

Our team suffered a 2-0 defeat in the 2nd leg, and went out of this year's UEFA Europa League with an aggregate score of 4-0. Regardless of the result of the round of 16, the large crowd of supporters cheered our team on at the final whistle, showing what a great success it was to have made it through to the spring international cup round.