Leverkusen on course towards EL quarters with 2-0 over Ferencvaros

Bayer Leverkusen took a first step towards the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Hungarian champions Ferencvaros on Thursday, reported dpa.

The Bundesliga side took a 10th-minute lead from Kerem Demirbay's 17-metres drive into the top left corner.

Ferencvaros almost levelled out of the blue from Kristoffer Zachariassen hit the crossbar but the visitors were mostly harmless while Leverkusen also generated few chances.

Edmond Tapsoba then clinched matters for the 1988 UEFA Cup champions Leverkusen when he headed home on the rebound of Adam Hlozek's free-kick against the left post.

"We played a good match overall, very mature and very concentrated," Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri said.

"We are not here to see how far we can go. We have a good team with a lot of potential. Frankfurt did it as well. We believe in ourselves," he added in reference to Eintracht Frankfurt's surprise Europa League title last year.

The return leg is next week in Budapest where Leverkusen lost 1-0 last season in the group stage, after winning 2-1 at home.