Champions League Thriller: Bayer leverkusen Draws with โคPSV Eindhoven as Borussia โขDortmund Triumphs
COPENHAGEN – Bayer Leverkusen and โPSV โขEindhoven battled to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League tie, while Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao โon Wednesday. The Leverkusen match,marked by โขinjuries and a late equalizer,leaves their European โambitions hanging in the balance.
Leverkusen manager Xabi alonso acknowledged the โฃpressure surrounding the match, โstating before kickoff, “The pressureโฃ is always there. But we only think of this game. If we go throughโค our game, we always have a chance to win.” Alonso made three โchangesโข from their recent Bundesliga win against FC St. Pauli, with Kofane replacing โฃthe injured Patrik Schickโ (thigh problems), Equi Fernรกndez starting in place of the unfit Nonductor, and Ernest Poku taking the place โof elise โขben Seghir.
PSV initially threatened, with Ivan Perisic’s early goal โขdisallowed for offside after a VAR โขcheck. Leverkusen responded, with Alejandroโข Grimaldo hitting the โขpost and Aleix โคGarcรญa attempting a shot from distance. Goalkeeper Matej Kovar, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen, denied Malik Tillman in the 25th minute.โค Despite a 7-1 advantage in goal shots by the half-hour mark, Leverkusen failed to capitalize, and PSV regained momentum. A further blow came in the 42nd minute when Leverkusenโฃ defender โฃAxel Tape was forced off the field, adding to the team’s injury concerns.
Leverkusen began theโฃ second half โbrightly, โwith Poku hitting the outside of the net. However,a defensive lapse from โคPSV allowed Kofane to score in the 52ndโ minute,capitalizing on a misplayed back pass. the lead proved short-lived, as โPSV’s Saibari equalized just minutes later with a preciseโ finish past Mark Flekken.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1, giving them an advantage heading into the second leg.
