Patrik Schick scored in stoppage time as Bayer Leverkusen came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday and stretch their unbeaten run throughout the season to 35 matches, while Liverpool triumphed 5-1 at Sparta Prague.
Yassine Benzia opened the scoring in the last 16 first leg match in Azerbaijan in the 26th minute after Jonathan Tah lost the ball, and another Leverkusen mistake allowed Juninho to round goalkeeper Matej Kovar and net the second on the stroke of half-time.
Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga leaders were far from the form of their two victories against the same opponents in the group stage but regrouped when originally rested stars Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka came on.
Wirtz chipped Leverkusen back into the game in the 70th minute after intercepting a terrible back pass, and Schick nodded the equalizer in time added on off Robert Andrich's cross.
"We absolutely didn't underestimate the opponent. We knew that they are dominant and aggressive," Tah said. "The [unbeaten] streak is a nice side effect but that's not what it is about."
Premier League leaders Liverpool were untroubled in Prague ahead of a big league match on Sunday against champions Manchester City but were facing another injury concern regarding Ibrahima Konate.
Darwin Nunez scored a first-half brace after Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring for Jürgen Klopp's men with a sixth minute penalty, his first in the 25th the 1,000th goal for the Reds under manager Jürgen Klopp.
Luiz Diaz grabbed the fourth with a deflected shot in the 53rd, seven minutes after an own goal from Conor Bradley, before substitute Dominik Szoboszlai wrapped up matters in stoppage time.
Mohamed Salah also returned from injury in the 73rd minute to get a few minutes ahead of the Man City clash. He scored a few minutes later but the goal was nullified for offside upon review.
"We are obviously delighted with the result, our performance could have probably been better, it is a bit sane to say that when you won 5-1 but you can't ask for much more, playing away in Europe scoring five goals," captain Andy Robertson said.
There was no such luck for the other English side in action in the early kick-offs, as Brighton & Hove Albion were crushed 4-0 at last year's finalists Roma from Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini and Bryab Cristante.
Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta drew 1-1 on Wednesday while the other four first leg games are later Thursday.
