Bayer Leverkusen Shock Manchester City With 2-0 Victory At Etihad
Pep Guardiola’s 100th UEFA Champions League match as Manchester City manager ended in disappointment as Bayer Leverkusen delivered a near-perfect away performance to secure a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, marking just their second UCL victory on English soil (D1, L8).
Guardiola made 10 changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Newcastle United in the Premier League, fielding a heavily rotated side. City started positively, with Nathan Ake forcing a smart save from Mark Flekken at the near post, but Leverkusen quickly regained control.
The German side took the lead midway through the first half. Christian Kofane cushioned a cross for Alejandro Grimaldo, who drilled a low shot past James Trafford. City threatened late in the half, but Tijjani Reijnders’ strike was saved by Flekken.
At halftime, Guardiola brought on Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Nico O’Reilly to spark City’s performance. However, within 10 minutes of the restart, Patrik Schick glanced a header past Ake and Trafford from Ibrahim Maza’s inswinging cross, doubling Leverkusen’s lead.
Erling Haaland was introduced to ignite a comeback but saw a close-range effort saved. Flekken also denied Rayan Cherki’s late free-kick, sealing Leverkusen’s second group-stage win.
The result leaves Leverkusen 13th in the group and within two points of sixth-placed City, who suffered their first defeat of the Champions League season.
