Bundesliga
Leverkusen thrash Salzburg
Patrik Schick was on target once again, Florian Wirtz scored a brace and Alejandro Grimaldo netted a trademark free-kick as Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Salzburg on UEFA Champions League Matchday 5.
Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Red Bull Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (pen. 8'), 2-0 Grimaldo 12', 3-0 Wirtz 30' (assist: Grimaldo) 30', 4-0 Schick 61' (assist: Frimpong), 5-0 García 72' (assist: Wirtz)
Leverkusen came close to a dream start when Wirtz skillfully carved out space and unleashed a close-range shot, but it wasn’t to be on that occasion. The hosts kept up the pressure and were rewarded in the sixth minute when Schick’s shot struck Samson Baidoo’s hand, earning a penalty. Wirtz stepped up and coolly fired his spot-kick into the top corner for an early lead. The midfield maestro was at the heart of things again shortly after, winning a free-kick just outside the box that Grimaldo bent beautifully into the opposite top corner. Grimaldo had chances to add more, forcing a strong save from Alexander Schlager with a powerful strike before sending a first-time effort narrowly wide from Jeremie Frimpong’s pass. Leverkusen’s dominance was unrelenting, and Wirtz eventually added a third, weaving through a crowded Salzburg penalty area with dazzling footwork before slotting the ball into the far corner to cap off an excellent first-half display.
Despite Salzburg making three changes at half-time, Leverkusen picked up where they left off, dominating possession deep in the opposition’s half. Their first chance of the second-half came from a looping header by Schick that drifted just wide of the post. With a comfortable three-goal cushion, Xabi Alonso’s side naturally eased off slightly, but it did little to alter the flow of the game as Salzburg continued to struggle against Leverkusen’s relentless pressing. The hosts extended their lead just after the hour mark when Frimpong delivered a pin-point low cross to Schick, whose first-time finish found the back of the net to make it 4-0. Moments later, Wirtz came close to completing his hat-trick, but his close-range effort rolled agonisingly wide of the far post. Wirtz was involved in Leverkusen’s fifth, though, cutting a pass back to the on-rushing Aleix García to finish off a clinical counter-attack almost straight after the Spaniard’s introduction. Bayer move onto 10 points from five games, with three more to play in the league phase.
Match stats
- Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 10 European home games (W6, D4), dating back to a 3-2 loss to Monaco in their 2022/23 UEFA Europa League last-16 play-off first leg.
- Alonso won two Champions League titles as a player, lifting the trophy in 2004/05 with Liverpool and 2013/14 with Real Madrid.
- Schick scored five goals and was Leverkusen's joint-top scorer with Boniface in last season's Europa League on route to the final.
- Bayer have won four of six previous UEFA competition games against teams from Austria, drawing one and losing the other.
- Salzburg, meanwhile, have lost four of six Champions League meetings with German opposition (W1, D1).
- Blaswich won the 2022/23 DFB Cup and 2023/24 Supercup with Leipzig.
Teams
Leverkusen: Kovář – Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapié (Arthur 68') – Frimpong (Tella 68'), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo – Palacios (García 68'), Schick (Stepanov 73'), Wirtz (Onyeka 76')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Lomb, Hawighorst, Onyeka
Out: Adli (broken leg), Belocian (foot), Boniface (thigh), Hofmann (muscular), Mukiele (thigh), Terrier (arm)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Salzburg: Schlager – Dedić (c), Piątkowski, Baidoo, Terzić (Guindo 46') – Clark (Bidstrup 46') , Gourna-Douath (Bajčetić 46'), Daimbou (Capaldo 74') – Yeo, Konaté (Dorgeles 16'), Gloukh
Unused subs: Hamzic, Blank, Okoh, Mellberg, Kawamura, Ratkov, Daghim
Out: Blaswich (calf), Fernando (thigh), Kjaergaard (ankle), Morgalla (thigh)
Coach: Pepijn Lijnders
As it happened!
5 - 0(3 - 0)
Leverkusen
FINAL
Salzburg
90' +1
vs
Two additional minutes
There are to be two minutes added on at the end of this half for injuries and stoppages.
90'
vs
Grimaldo shoots
Once again, the Spaniard tries an attempt from the edge of the box. He shot straight through the ball and it would've been dipping toward to the far corner, if not for the outstretched Schlager.
84'
vs
Wide from Tella
Andrich crosses in towards Tella, who connects with a header at the far post but knocks it wide.
82'
vs
Decent effort from Dedić
Salzburg get themselves up the pitch. The ball is worked to the captain Dedić, who, from the edge of the box, lets a powerful left-footed effort fly goalwards. A diving Kovář is forced to make a rare save, managing to catch the attempt.
78'
vs
Tella goes through
The winger gets in behind the Salzburg defence down the left channel. He gets a shot away with his left, which is blocked, before the ball drops back to him. His second effort, curled with his right, is wide of the mark.
76'
vs
Young stars
Onyeka and Stepanov (both 17) come on to make their Champions League debuts, replacing Wirtz and Schick.
76'
vs
Francis Onyeka
Florian Wirtz
65'
vs
Robert Andrich
73'
vs
Nicolás Capaldo
Mamady Diambou
73'
vs
Artem Stepanov
Patrik Schick
72'
vs
García makes it five!
Leverkusen counter-attack quickly. It's worked out to Wirtz on the right, who considers a cross before cutting it back to García on the edge of the box. His first time shot is close to Schlager, but is too powerful for the keeper to stop from close range. That's García's first Champions League goal.
68'
vs
Almost instant impact
Immediately upon coming onto the pitch, Tella is released in acres of space down the right. He works it into García inside the box, who unleashes a powerful shot, but Schlager punches it away.
68'
vs
Triple change
The three senior outfield players on the bench come on for Leverkusen.
67'
vs
Nathan Tella
Jeremie Frimpong
67'
vs
Arthur
Piero Hincapié
67'
vs
Aleix García
Exequiel Palacios
66'
vs
Grimaldo with the effort
Leverkusen keep pushing for another goal. The ball gets congested on the edge of the Salzburg area, before falling to Grimaldo, who shoots. Schlager saves and holds onto it, though.
65'
vs
Wirtz nearly gets his third
Palacios gets to the byline down the right channel. He cuts back into the box where Wirtz is waiting. He shoots first time, dragging his shot narrowly wide of the left post.
61'
vs
Schick makes it four!
The striker finally gets his goal. Frimpong receives the ball out wide, whipping a deep cross into the box. Schick arrives to just prod it home from six yards out for his first ever Champions League goal. That's seven goals in his last six appearances now.
58'
vs
Yeo receives first yellow
The winger has an opportunity to break, but Leverkusen snuff out the danger. He trips Robert Andrich, but it's most likely his reaction towards the referee that earns him the first yellow card of the match.
58'
vs
Moussa Yeo
57'
vs
Corner for Salzburg
The visitors take it quickly, catching Leverkusen off guard. Dedić picks it up, dribbling into the box. He tries a shot with his left but his attempt is wild and flies well wide.
52'
vs
Schick's glancing header
Frimpong whips a cross in from the right towards the head of Schick. The forward gets up well and glances a header towards the back post, which travels narrowly wide of the mark.
51'
vs
Slower start to the half
Salzburg have enjoyed a bit more of the ball since half-time, and look tighter at the back on the whole. Leverkusen don't need to start quite as guns-blazing as they did in the first.
46'
vs
Triple change
Salzburg make three changes at half time after a dismal first half performance.
46'
vs
Stefan Bajčetić
Lucas Gourna-Douath
46'
vs
Daouda Guindo
Aleksa Terzić
46'
vs
Mads Bidstrup
Bobby Clark
45' +4
vs
Grimaldo takes...
...but it flies straight into the wall.
45' +3
vs
Free-kick
The cleared corner falls to Frimpong, who shoots first time. It strikes the hand of Yeo and the referee gives a free-kick in a similar, but opposite, position to where Grimaldo scored his sides' second.
45' +3
vs
Late corner
Andrich pounces on a loose ball high up and drives to the byline, but his cross is blocked behind. Wirtz takes, swinging it in from the left but Schlager punches clear.
45' +1
vs
Four additional minutes
There are to be four minutes added on at the end of this half.
45'
vs
Palacios goes through
The Argentine charges down the right flank and is through on goal. He lets a shot fly from a tight angle, but Schlager is equal to it, parrying it clear.
43'
vs
First real effort from Salzburg
Left-back Terzić gets high up the pitch, receiving the ball just outside the box. He whips a cross in, which is headed only as far as Yeo. He gets an early shot away, beating Hincapie but Kovář makes a comfortable save.
40'
vs
Chance goes begging
Wirtz chips a little ball into the box for Andrich to get onto. The German reaches it and fires a cross in front of the face of the goal, looking for Schick at the back post. The Czech forward stretches but cannot quite reach it.
39'
vs
Tapsoba pressing
The centre-back gets high up the pitch and presses in tandem with Frimpong to win the ball back for Leverkusen. They're awarded a throw-in for their efforts.
36'
vs
Frimpong shoots
Palacios works it out to Frimpong, who controls the ball with his right inside the box. He moves the ball onto his left foot and releases a powerful low shot but it's too close to Schlager, who saves with his feet.
33'
vs
No let up from Leverkusen
The hosts have a free-kick from the left touchline. Grimaldo takes it, in towards Schick, but the Czech forward's header is well wide.
30'
vs
Wirtz at the double!
He started the move and my how he finished it! Wirtz plays it out wide to Grimaldo then gets it back from the Spaniard before dribbling into the box, showcasing excellent close control. He works it onto his right foot and just strokes it home past Schlager into the bottom right from close range.
29'
vs
Grimaldo misses
Frimpong gets to the byline and squares it into the box for Grimaldo , whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. Leverkusen can't make anything of it, though.
27'
vs
Xhaka this time
The corner comes to the edge of the box, where Xhaka attempts a trademark long-ranged left-footed effort, but Schlager is there again to make the save. Leverkusen are really turning the screw here...
26'
vs
Grimaldo shoots
Palacios plays Frimpong through into the Salzburg box, but he can't get his shot away. He lays it off to Schick, who also can't shoot and works it out to Grimaldo, whose left-footed effort is tipped behind for a corner by Schlager.
24'
vs
Looking for Schick
Palacios pops up with the ball on the edge of the box, attempting a chipped pass in behind to Schick, but Piątkowski is there to head it back to his keeper.
23'
vs
Grimaldo attempts the switch
Leverkusen try to counter-attack. The wing-back sees an option to switch it to Frimpong, who is in space, but the Spaniard slices his pass and Salzburg recover the ball.
22'
vs
First corner for Salzburg
Taken from the left in towards Dorgeles, Leverkusen manage to get it clear.