Skip to main content

Group B round-up

Konstantin Rausch celebrates Hannover's opening goal
Image: Konstantin Rausch celebrates Hannover's opening goal

Standard Liege and Hannover advanced to the Europa League last 32 with respective wins in their final Group B fixtures.

More from Football

Standard and Hannover go through in style

Standard Liege and Hannover advanced to the Europa League last 32 with respective wins in Group B. Both sides came into the final round of fixtures already assured of qualification and Michy Batshuayi's goal was enough for Standard to claim a 1-0 win at FC Copehagen and top spot in the group. The Belgium side finished three points clear of Hannover, whose second-string line-up earned a 3-1 success at Vorskla Poltava thanks to goals from Konstantin Rausch, Didier Konan and Artur Sobiech. Standard, whose players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to those killed and injured in this week's attack at a busy market square in Liege, looked far more purposeful in the opening exchanges. The breakthrough came after 31 minutes when Ignacio Gonzalez chipped the ball up for Batshuayi, who turned his man smartly before smashing the ball low into the left corner from 18 yards. With Copenhagen impotent in attack, Standard easily saw out the half with their lead intact and could have added a second after 51 minutes, Batshuayi again the danger man with a shot that Johan Wiland tipped athletically away from danger. Standard might have added to the scoring near the end when Pape Camara unleashed a fine effort from outside the area that Wiland clawed away.

Miller return

With nothing riding on the game in Hannover, home boss Mirko Slomka used the opportunity to recall goalkeeper Markus Miller. Miller had missed the previous 11 weeks due to mental exhaustion, amongst his six changes. First-half goals from Rausch and Konan sent the Germans on their way and, while Roman Bezues pulled one back just before half-time from the penalty spot, Sobiech sealed the win 12 minutes from time. Hannover were even able to afford a second-half penalty miss from Rausch.

Sky Data Layer Viewer