Bayer Leverkusen Secures Impressive Victory Against Manchester City in Champions League

Following a weekend victory against Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen is eager to ignite their Champions League campaign with a match against Manchester City.

In contrast to fellow Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen appeared significantly more prepared to face City, despite having a limited squad.

Throughout the first half, die Werkself relied heavily on goalkeeper Mark Flekken to thwart City’s advances. However, Leverkusen showcased their offensive capabilities, particularly on the right flank with the contributions of Ernest Poku and Ibrahim Maza.

Leverkusen was the first to score, breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute. A counter-attack initiated by Ibrahim Maza culminated in a deflected cross that landed at Alejandro Grimaldo’s feet, who promptly converted it to make it 1-0.

The second half saw Leverkusen maintain their momentum, displaying solid defensive organization and effectively absorbing pressure from City. In the 55th minute, a long ball from Malik Tillman found Grimaldo, whose quick pass set up Ibrahim Maza for a cross that Patrik Schick headed home, extending the lead to 2-0.

Leverkusen sustained their advantage for the remainder of the match, with Flekken continuing his impressive performance from the weekend. Defenders Jarell Quansah and Loïc Bade were crucial in neutralizing threats, even managing to keep Erling Haaland quiet upon his introduction. Maza excelled in his new midfield role, seamlessly linking defense and attack.

This victory serves as a significant statement from Leverkusen against one of the world’s top teams. Despite earlier struggles against formidable opponents such as PSG and Bayern Munich, they demonstrated that they had learned from those experiences. The three points are vital for Leverkusen’s Champions League aspirations, which had previously struggled to gain traction.

While some may argue that City utilized a B team, it is noteworthy that Leverkusen faced their own challenges, having only a few fit senior players, thus limiting their substitutions without resorting to their under-19 squad.

The performance reflects the positive impact of coach Kasper Hjulmand, illustrating the team’s progress after significant changes during the summer transfer window. Looking ahead, Leverkusen’s next challenge will be against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, presenting another opportunity for B04 to make a powerful statement.

Individual performances were notable, with Mark Flekken earning a rating of 7, while Jarell Quansah and Ibrahim Maza also received commendable scores. Maza, in particular, showcased his skills as a 20-year-old midfielder making his Champions League debut, contributing defensively and offensively with an 85% pass completion rate.

This season has seen Maza transition to a central midfield role, a position that continues to prove effective for him.

In summary, several players from Leverkusen played vital roles in this victory, with Flekken making nine saves, complemented by strong defensive efforts from Quansah and Bade.