Bayer Leverkusen have managed to snatch the consolation prize despite a miserable performance thanks to a kind assist and will spend the winter in the Europa League.
The Bundesliga team, which was eliminated from the Champions League prematurely, did not manage more than a 0-0 draw against FC Brugge in its last group match in the top flight, but thanks to Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 (0-2) defeat at FC Porto in the parallel match, the struggling Werkself still secured third place.
The surprise Group B team from Bruges finished the preliminary round in second place. Porto, against whom Bayer had lost both games, are group winners.