The Leverkusen footballers entered the Champions League with a clear 4-0 win at Feyenoord in a battle between two future opponents of Sparta Prague. Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář remained on the bench for the winning team, Patrik Schick intervened in the game from the 62nd minute. Benfica Lisbon won 2:1 at Crvene zvezdy Belgrade stadium. Brest football players had a successful debut in the “millionaire” competition, defeating Sturm Graz 2:1. Barcelona, playing weakened from the 11th minute, lost to Monaco with the same result. Atlético Madrid turned their match with Leipzig to 2:1 only in the set-up. The match between Atalanta and Arsenal ended amicably without goals.
Bayer took the lead at the De Kuip Stadium after less than five minutes. Zerrukí lost the ball in his own half and Wirtz opened the scoring from behind the goal. The Algerian international could have corrected his mistake in the ninth minute, but his goal was disallowed due to offside.
The visitors went ahead after half an hour after Grimaldo capitalized on Frimpong’s pass from close range. In the next six minutes, the Dutch representative Frimpong crossed in front of the goal and Wirtz dealt another blow to the home side by finishing from the first. The 21-year-old Bayer striker became the first German to score at least two goals on his debut in the “millionaire” competition.
The horror half for Feyenoord, whose lineup included former Spartan Hancko, was completed by goalkeeper Wellenreuther, who knocked Tapsoba’s header into the goal and the goal was credited to him as his own. For the third time in history, the team from the port city conceded four times in the cups during the first half.
After the change of sides, nothing important happened. The reigning German champions also won the fourth competitive duel of the season away from home. On the other hand, the Dutch team, led by former Sparta coach Brian Priske, suffered their first defeat of the year, but did not win the fourth of the last five games. Both teams will challenge the Leten team, which defeated Salzburg 3-0 at home on Wednesday, in front of their own fans.
“Am I shocked? I don’t know if that’s the right word. First of all, I was surprised by the goals we conceded, that’s not possible in the Champions League. Bayer punished us heavily,” the club website quoted Priske as saying.
“My team performed very well. We played very maturely despite the stormy atmosphere. Today we managed not only to score goals, but also to defend well, which is important in the Champions League. We have to show it in the next matches as well,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso .
At Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium, Leipzig led from the fourth minute thanks to Šešek, Griezmann equalized after less than half an hour of play. The same player contributed to Giménez’s winning goal with an assist at the end of regular time.
While “Rojiblancos” will present themselves at Letná at the end of November, Brest at the beginning of it. The French team scored first against the defending Austrian champions thanks to Magnetti, home midfielder Fernandes scored an own goal in the first half. After changing sides, former Slavist striker Sima decided Brest’s triumph. In the end, the visiting Lavalée was expelled.
Barcelona played weakened in Monaco from the 10th minute. Goalkeeper Ter Stegen made a mistake and García illegally stopped Minamino, who would have run alone to the goal. He immediately saw a red card from the referee. The princely club used a power play in the 16th minute with a goal by Akliouche, the 17-year-old European champion with Spain Yamal equalized for the guests. After the break, Ilenikhena gave the hosts a full point win. The Catalan team did not follow up on the opening five wins in the Spanish league.
In the duel between Bergamo and Arsenal, the home side were closer to winning, but in the second half the goalkeeper of Ray saved Retegui’s penalty and made a fantastic save to neutralize his header.
Benfica decided to win 2:1 at the ground of Crvene zvezda Belgrade in the opening act, when Turks Aktürkoglu and Kökcü scored. In the end, substitute Milson reduced. Already in the first half, visiting Bah had to substitute due to injury, on the other hand, another former player of Slavia Olayinka came on the pitch in the 71st minute.
The Champions League is played in a new format from this season. The traditional eight groups of four have been replaced by a league phase in which all 36 teams form one table. Each team will play four home and away matches against eight different opponents. The first eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, the clubs in ninth to 24th place face the opening round of the elimination phase.
Feyenoord Rotterdam – Leverkusen 0:4 (0:4)
Goals: 5. and 36. Wirtz, 30. Grimaldo, 45. own Wellenreuther
Crvena zvezda Belgrade – Benfica Lisbon 1:2 (0:2)
Goals: 86. Milson – 9. Aktürkoglu, 29. Kökcü
Bergamo – Arsenal 0:0
Atlético Madrid – Leipzig 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 28. Griezmann – 4. Sesko
Brest – Sturm Hradec 2:1(1:1)
Goals: 23. Magnetti – 45.+1 owned by Fernandes
Monaco – FC Barcelona 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 16. Akliouche – 28. Yamal. Referee: Lindhout (Netherlands)
ČK: 11. Garcia (Barcelona).
