Bundesliga
Leverkusen late show stuns Atletico Madrid
Late goals from Robert Andrich and Moussa Diaby gave Bayer Leverkusen a memorable win at home to Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League Group B.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Goals: 1-0 Andrich 84' (assist: Frimpong), 2-0 Diaby 87' (assist: Frimpong)
Leverkusen began the game with two changes to their starting line-up from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin. Jeremie Frimpong dropped to the bench, while Exequiel Palacios missed out through injury. In came Andrich and Piero Hincapie as Adam Hlozek made his Champions League debut to a lively reception at the BayArena. Die Werkself showed elements of maturity following a difficult start to the season, Patrik Schick getting the better of former Borussia Dortmund man Axel Witsel for much of the half but struggling to find the space to test Ivo Grbic in the Atleti net. Much of the half was spent in the midfield, with Leverkusen just having the edge over their visitors from the Spanish capital. Andrich placed a shot over the bar early in the half, while Kerem Demirbay sent an effort just wide of the post after some nice build-up play from Hincapie. The visitors had a VAR claim against Edmond Tapsoba for handball dismissed after 22 minutes, but did very little trouble to Lukas Hradecky throughout the half.
The second half saw Madrid make attacking changes at the break with Rodrigo De Paul offering some better opportunities in midfield for his teammates than Saul Niguez. Antonie Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco joined shortly after but couldn’t find an opening; Leverkusen’s defending was some of the best they’ve shown all season. At the other end, Diaby squeezed the ball through Schick, but the Czech international's strike smashed against the woodwork with Hlozek hitting the post on the rebound. The match was seemingly heading for a 0-0 draw, only for the introduction of Jeremie Frimpong to change the game. First, the 24-year-old broke through and cut the ball to Andrich on the edge of the box - the former Union Berlin man curling the ball into the bottom left of Grbic’s goal. Three minutes later, Frimpong grabbed another assist, though credit goes to Schick for winning the ball back deep in his own half. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Frimpong took care of the rest, with the former Celtic man slipping the ball through to Diaby to tap home and seal victory.
Match stats
- These were Leverkusen’s first three points in the Champions League since 26 November 2019.
- All three of Leverkusen’s three Champions League victories over Atletico have been at the BayArena.
- Frimpong now has two assists to add to his two goals this season for Leverkusen.
- Summer loanee Hudson-Odoi was part of the Chelsea side that won the Champions League in 2021, knocking out Atletico in the round of 16.
- The Madrid club have managed just one clean sheet in 22 UEFA fixtures away in Germany (1-0 win vs. Carl Zeiss Jena in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962). This was Atleti’s eighth defeat in Germany in their last nine games.
- Axel Witsel made 145 appearances for Dortmund, while Matheus Cunha played a combined 92 times for RB Leipzig and Hertha, including three goals against Leverkusen.
Teams
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba (Bakker 89’), Hincapie – Andrich, Demirbay – Diaby (Azmoun 89’), Hlozek (Frimpong 69’), Hudson-Odoi (Amiri 90+1) – Schick (Aránguiz 89’)
Unused subs: Lomb, Neutgens, Paulinho, Fosu-Mensah
Coach: Gerardo Seoane
Atletico: Oblak – Felipe, Witsel, Hermoso – Molina (Griezmann 62’), Niguez (De Paul 46’), Llorente, Koke (c), Reinildo (Carrasco 62’) – Felix (Correa 73’), Morata (Cunha 73’)
Unused subs: Gomis, Mestre, Kondogbia, Sergio Diez, Alberto Moreno, Marco Moreno
Coach: Diego Simeone
As it happened
2 - 0(0 - 0)
Leverkusen
FINAL
Atletico
vs
IT'S ALL OVER!
If there's any team that needed a confidence boosting performance in Europe - it's Leverkusen. 2-0 the final score. UEFA Champions League nights are well and truly back at the BayArena.
90' +1
vs
Nadiem Amiri
Callum Hudson-Odoi
89'
vs
Charles Aránguiz
Patrik Schick
89'
vs
Mitchel Bakker
Edmond Tapsoba
89'
vs
Sardar Azmoun
Moussa Diaby
87'
vs
A QUICKFIRE DOUBLE
It's two! Schick wins the ball back deep in his half and lays it Hudson-Odoi. He streams down the right, with Frimpong on the overlap before the flying Dutchman sends the ball to the back post for Diaby to finish. Incredible counter-attack and forward momentum from Leverkusen.
84'
vs
AND ANDRICH LEAVES IT LATE!
Wow! Frimpong manages to find a way through through the Atletico Madrid full back. He lays it to Andrich on the edge of the box who slots it to the left corner to give Leverkusen a late lead.
77'
vs
CAREFUL
Andrich becomes the third Leverkusen player to enter the referee's book tonight.
77'
vs
Robert Andrich
73'
vs
FRIMPONG IN AND HUNGRY
Jeremie Frimpong has jumped into the action full throttle and has an effort on goal but the shot is blocked.
73'
vs
Angel Correa
Joao Felix
73'
vs
Matheus Cunha
Alvaro Morata
69'
vs
Jeremie Frimpong
Adam Hložek
62'
vs
TWO CHANGES
Atletico Madrid make two attacking changes. Griezmann and Carrasco join the action.
62'
vs
Antoine Griezmann
Nahuel Molina
62'
vs
Yannick Carrasco
Reinildo
55'
vs
DE PAUL LOOKING LIVELY FROM THE VISITORS
It's a fresh looking Atleti in the second period, with the Argentinian bringing the visitors a lot more joy in possession of the ball in midfield.
48'
vs
SCHICK HITS THE BAR
It's an incisive Leverkusen breakaway Diaby squeezes it through to Schick who has the whole net to aim at but puts his effort onto the bar. The follow-up from Hlozek also hits the post. So close!
47'
vs
QUICK START TO THE SECOND 45 FROM ATLETI
Molina and Felix both with efforts at goal.
46'
vs
Rodrigo De Paul
Saúl Ñíguez
46'
vs
WELCOME BACK
De Paul is on for the visitors. The Argentinian replacing Saul who had a quiet first half.
vs
SMART STUFF FROM LEVERKUSEN
It's never an easy task against Atletico but Leverkusen have handled the pressure considerably well so far. If they can start to test Grbic a little more they could be in with a shout of the win tonight.
0 - 0
Half-time
39'
vs
Jonathan Tah
41'
vs
HALF CHANCES GALORE
Leverkusen are enjoying more possession and more shots than their Spanish opponents so far this evening. That's not to say the visitors aren't without their efforts, but the hosts can be happy with their efforts in the opening half.
35'
vs
LIVELY GAME FOR HUDSON-ODOI
On only his third Leverkusen start, Callum Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed a lively first half. You can already see entertainment in the eyes of the Werkself fans as they watch their new English prospect in action.
32'
vs
Odilon Kossounou
26'
vs
DEMIRBAY GOES CLOSE
Hincapie starts a super Leverkusen move. Hlozek takes over, squares it to Demirbay but he sends his effort just wide.
24'
vs
VAR CHECK
Leverkusen are victims of a VAR check against a potential Tapsoba handball but after a lengthy delay the check is over and the decision: no penalty.
12'
vs
TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT
Adam Hložek is making his first UEFA Champions League appearance at the BayArena tonight.
7'
vs
CLOSE!
Hincapie dangerous on the left sends in a dangerous cross that's half-cleared. The ball finds its way to Andrich, who sends an effort just over the bar.
3'
vs
SCHICK VS WITSEL
Almost a sneaky break from Schick is quickly dealt with by Witsel. The battle between these two will be a must-watch this evening.
1'
vs
TIME TO GO
We're underway at the BayArena!
vs
ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE ON THE BENCH FOR ATLETI
Matheus Cunha scored three times against Leverkusen during his spells at RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin. The Brazilian now plys his trade in Madrid and will be hoping to join the action at some point this evening.
vs
VISITS TO GERMANY ARE NOT ATLETI'S FORTE
Los Colchoneros have managed just one clean sheet in 21 UEFA fixtures away in Germany. Their recent record away at Bundesliga clubs is seven defeats in their last eight with their last matchup a 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020/21.
vs
DID YOU KNOW?
Bayer won 2-1 at home in their last meeting with Atletico in the 2019/20 group stage.
vs
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Leverkusen make two changes from Saturday's 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin. Andrich and Hincapie come into the side at the expense of Palacios and Frimpong. Former Borussia Dortmund star Axel Witsel starts in a five-man defence for the visitors.
vs
LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI
Hradecky - Kossounou, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Demirbay, Andrich, Hlozek - Diaby, Hudson-Odoi, Schick
vs
LEVERKUSEN SUBS
Lomb, Neutgens, Bakker, Paulinho, Azmoun, Amiri, Aranguiz, Fosu-Mensah, Frimpong
vs
ATLETICO STARTING XI
Grbic - Molina, Felipe, Witsel, Hermoso, Reinildo - Llorente, Koke, Saul - Morata, Felix
vs
ATLETICO SUBS
Gomis, Mestre, Kondogbia, De Paul, Griezmann, Cunha, Correa, Carrasco, Diez, A. Moreno, M. Moreno
vs
FAMILIAR FOES
This will be the seventh time that Leverkusen have met Atlético in the UEFA Champions League. The Werkself have won on two of those occasions and drawn once.