Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match at the helm of Manchester City closed with an unexpected setback as Bayer Leverkusen stunned the heavily altered home team. The Spanish coach opted to overhaul his lineup after the weekend defeat at Newcastle, but the widespread changes produced a display short on precision and energy.
Early pressure from the hosts brought a sharp stop from Mark Flekken when Nathan Ake prodded towards goal, yet that promising start soon faded as City labored on the ball.
Leverkusen sensed vulnerability and broke forward with purpose, eventually striking when Christian Kofane teed up captain Alejandro Grimaldo to fire in a clean first-time effort.
City’s supporting cast found it challenging to knit together sustained attacking sequences as they attempted to respond. Tijjani Reijnders carved through midfield but directed his finish straight at Flekken, symbolizing a night of misfiring attempts.
The visitors doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, with Patrik Schick rising to steer in a header from Ibrahim Maza’s precise delivery.
Erling Haaland entered on the hour and threatened to alter the rhythm, but Flekken again intervened decisively before the Norwegian lifted another opening over the bar.
The defeat halted City’s lengthy run of European home victories over German opponents.
With three league phase fixtures remaining, Guardiola’s side slipped to sixth and risks dropping into the playoff positions depending on midweek results. The evening underlined the difficulty fringe performers such as Omar Marmoush, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho had in seizing their chance.
Guardiola later introduced Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki in search of a revival, but the momentum had already swung away from his team.
Leverkusen capitalise on their limited openings
The German club arrived after major upheaval earlier in the season. Xabi Alonso’s exit for Real Madrid and the summer departures of several key figures left the squad unsettled.
Erik ten Hag’s brief spell ended swiftly, prompting the appointment of Kasper Hjulmand, who had previously taken Denmark to the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Since then, he has had steady performances, lifting the side to third domestically and now adding a signature European result.
Leverkusen demonstrated discipline and sharpness on the break throughout the contest. Their two goals came from their only efforts on target, reflecting both efficiency and composure in decisive moments.
At the opposite end, Flekken delivered an exceptional display, producing seven stops to secure a valuable clean sheet. The outcome earned the visitors their second victory of the continental campaign.
The win also pushed Leverkusen up to 13th in the standings, a position that would take them into the competition’s playoff round. It marked a significant step for a group that has navigated managerial changes and heavy player turnover.
The travelling supporters celebrated a result few would have predicted before kick-off. For Hjulmand, the triumph highlighted the resilience and clarity he has restored to the squad.
