Competitions in Europe have always seen Bayer Leverkusen competing frequently, especially in UEFA Europa League. They did not, however, make it into Europa League or any different European competition during several seasons. This season of 2023–2024 is one such recent example.
2023-2024 Season: Absence from European Competition
Bayer Leverkusen’s 2022–2023 Bundesliga season ended in a way that prevented them from qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, or the recently established UEFA Europa Conference League. This was a notable departure from their typical play, as they frequently place among the top six in the Bundesliga and qualify for Europe.
Reasons for the Absence
Leverkusen’s inability to make it into the Europa League for the 2023–2024 season was caused by a number of factors:
- Bundesliga Performance:
- Depending on the results of other competitions, Leverkusen’s sixth-place finish in the 2022–2023 Bundesliga season may not always mean a trip to the Europa League.
- DFB-Pokal Performance:
- They were not awarded a spot in Europa League due to their lackluster DFB-Pokal campaign. They forfeited a different path to European qualification by leaving the competition earlier than planned.
- Increased Competition:
- Leverkusen and other historically strong teams are finding it more difficult to qualify for Europe as the Bundesliga’s competition heats up and teams like RB Leipzig, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Eintracht Frankfurt gain prominence.
- Squad and Injury Issues:
- Their ability to consistently perform at a high level throughout the season was impacted by injuries to important players and squad inconsistency. Decisions made by the manager and changes in the team also contributed.
- UEFA Europa Conference League Introduction:
- Some of the spots that would have gone to Europa League candidates were reassigned with the creation of UEFA Europa Conference League. The teams who would typically participate in Europa League were absorbed by this new tournament, which changed the dynamics of qualification.
Historical Context
The 2023–2024 season they made history by back to back wins in the Bundesliga . While they haven’t always made it to European competitions, there have been seasons in the past when they haven’t. Leverkusen’s consistent participation in European competitions has often been guaranteed by their impressive results in domestic leagues and cups.
Future Prospects
Bayer Leverkusen turned out to be a strong squad with a strong foundation and a track record by winning bundesliga and hence completing the season without getting a single defeat but ultimately lost to Atalanta in the finals of Europa League and that was shocking to the football fans. They would now concentrate on fixing the problems, like squad depth, tactical modifications, and increased consistency and in no time they will be able to reclaim their spot in European competitions with the high changes.
In conclusion, a combination of factors including their Bundesliga wins, final match cup eliminations, heightened competition and the influence of the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League led to Bayer Leverkusen’s struggle they they will definitely tough it out and become champions