Bundesliga
Leverkusen make big statement at Feyenoord in Champions League
Bayer Leverkusen made an emphatic start to their first UEFA Champions League campaign under Xabi Alonso by thrashing Feyenoord 4-0 in the Netherlands.
Feyenoord 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Wirtz 5' (assist: Andrich), 0-2 Grimaldo 31' (assist: Frimpong), 0-3 Wirtz 36' (assist: Frimpong), 0-4 Wellenreuther (o.g. 45')
Leverkusen have already dropped points in the early part of their Bundesliga title defence, but they were back to their untouchable best at the De Kuip. Florian Wirtz set the tone inside five minutes with a well-struck finish after Ramiz Zerrouki had conceded possession to Robert Andrich. Zerrouki had a goal ruled out and Lukas Hrádecký made a routine save from In-Beom Hwang, before Alonso's side ran away with it. Jeremie Frimpong was heavily involved in quick-fire goals for Álex Grimaldo and Wirtz - the latter completing his brace with a fine volleyed finish. Bayer added a fourth late in the half, when Timo Wellenreuther could only help Edmond Tapsoba's header from a set-piece into his own net.
Leverkusen took their foot off the gas after the restart as Quinten Timber tested Hrádecký. The 2023/24 Eredivise runners-up continued to plug away, albeit without seriuously troubling Bayer's well-drilled defence. Victor Boniface and Grimaldo threatened at the other end, though it felt for long periods like the visitors were content just to sit on their sizeable advantage and preserve energy levels for Sunday's meeting with Wolfsburg. Exequiel Palacios was among the players introduced as the game wore on, the Argentina international twice going close to adding the gloss to a stand-up-and-take-notice performance by the men from the BayArena.
Match stats
- This is the first time Leverkusen scored four away goals in a Champions League match.
- Excluding qualifying, Wirtz’s age of 21 years and 139 days old makes him the second-youngest Leverkusen player ever to score on his Champions League debut. Marko Babić holds the record, netting at the age of 21 and 43 days against Juventus in 2002.
- Alonso made his Champions League coaching debut. The Spaniard made 119 appearances in the competition as a player, lifting the trophy with Liverpool (2004/05) and Real Madrid (2013/14).
- Leverkusen beat Feyenoord in their only meeting to date, prevailing 3-2 in the last 16 of the 1987/88 UEFA Cup on their way to lifting the trophy.
- Die Werkself are now unbeaten in their previous seven UEFA competition games against Dutch opposition (W3, D3).
Line-ups
Feyenoord: Wellenreuther - Lotomba (Hadj Moussa 61'), Beelen, Trauner (Mitchell 72'), Hancko - Hwang, Milambo, Zerrouki (Smal 46'), Timber (c) - Milambo (Nadje 75'), Giménez, Paixão (Ueda 61')
Unused subs: Bijlow, Berger, Gonzalez, Ivanušec, Carranza, Zechiel, Osman
Out: Hartman (knee), Stengs (knee)
Coach: Brian Priske
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka (Palacios 81'), Andrich, Grimaldo (Belocian 80') - Terrier (Adli 72'), Wirtz (García 72') - Boniface (Schick 62')
Unused subs: Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Arthur, Tella, Mukiele
Out: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso
As it happened!
0 - 4(0 - 4)
Feyenoord
FINAL
Leverkusen
90' +1
vs
Off the line!
García almost nets his first goal for the club, but his deflected effort is cleared at the last.
90' +1
vs
Two minutes added on
120 seconds remaining in this one.
88'
vs
Not long left
A comfortable few minutes surely await Leverkusen.
81'
vs
Exequiel Palacios
Granit Xhaka
80'
vs
Jeanuël Belocian
Alejandro Grimaldo
77'
vs
Closer
Grimaldo tries to show Boniface how its done from the halfway line but, while his attempt is close to beating Wellenreuther, it still beats the post.
73'
vs
Goal! But...
Ueda has the ball in the back of the net for Feyenoord, but an offside in the build-up means the strike is chalked off.
72'
vs
Jeyland Mitchell
Gernot Trauner
72'
vs
Amine Adli
Martin Terrier
72'
vs
Aleix García
Florian Wirtz
69'
vs
Still some way off top spot
Die Werkself are closing on a convincing victory, but they still have some way to go to move to the top of the league phase - Bayern currently occupy first place having hammered Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 on Tuesday.
62'
vs
Boniface withdrawn
The Nigerian didn't get himself on the scoresheet but did contribute, particularly with that fantastic piece of skill for Grimaldo's strike.
62'
vs
Patrik Schick
Victor Boniface
61'
vs
Anis Hadj-Moussa
Jordan Lotomba
61'
vs
Ayase Ueda
Igor Paixão
61'
vs
Cheeky!
Boniface is certainly feeling confident as he tries to beat Wellenreuther from the halfway line. It has the distance, but not the accuracy as it goes sails beyond the upright.
55'
vs
Hrádecký saves
The Leverkusen dives well to keep out a rasping Timber effort from distance.
51'
vs
Wirtz wide
A first chance of the second period for the man of the moment, but Wirtz can only fire well wide on this occasion.
49'
vs
Hosts pushing
Feyenoord have a lot of work to do if they are to get anything from this game, so there isn't any time to waste.
46'
vs
Back up and running
We are underway once again in Rotterdam, with Leverkusen in cruise control.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
44'
vs
One more time
Feyenoord are furious, Leverkusen are delerious. This is truly incredible. Tapsoba nods the ball across the face and the ball is knocked over the line by Timon Wellenreuther. Where will this end?
40'
vs
Boniface off target
One of the few things that haven't worked out for Leverkusen up until now. A Boniface shot that goes wide.
36'
vs
Leverkusen in dreamland
Wow. Just wow. Leverkusen are cruising. Frimpong has been a nightmare for Feyenoord, who just can't cope with their opponents' attacking pace. The Dutch player gets down the flank and spots Wirtz racing into the area. The pass is perfect, as is Wirtz's volleyed finish.
32'
vs
Hosts hit back
Undeterred, Feyenoord are straight back at it. Paixão wallops an effort at the target, but Hrádecký is equal to it, the Leverkusen keeper batting the ball out.
30'
vs
B04 double up
This is tasty from Leverkusen. Boniface plays a fade while Frimpong pokes a cross from the right. The ball takes a nick, bringing it into the path of Grimaldo, who simply has to slam high into the empty net.
26'
vs
Hwang goes close
The South Korean is allowed far too much time outside the Leverkusen area and can spin and shoot at the target. The ball zips narrowly wide.
23'
vs
Boniface shot
The striker has a pop from distance. His effort takes a slight deflection but ultimately ends up safely in the hands of Timon Wellenreuther.
23'
vs
Frimpong flying
Boniface frees Frimpong, who speeds inwards towards goal. Hancko slides in and down goes the Leverkusen man. Nothing doing, says the ref.
18'
vs
Ambitious effort
Paixão slams a shot from way out high and wide of the target. The Feyenoord man holds his hand up to the crowd. He had no business shooting from there.
14'
vs
Home chance
In-Beom Hwang makes some space for himself and swipes a shot at the target which Hrádecký saves easily enough.
8'
vs
Feyenoord denied
Zerrouki thinks he's made up for his earlier mistake by converting from close range. The home fans inside De Kuip erupt, but the flag is up on the far side. Offside.
6'
vs
Wirtz wizardry
Leverkusen's No.10 was the UEFA Europa League young player of the season for the previous two campaigns. Here he is now at European club football's top table turning on the style.
5'
vs
Leverkusen lead!
What a start for the Bundesliga champions. Ramiz Zerrouki gives up possession very cheaply and Andrich pounces, feeding Wirtz, who still has work to do. The 2023/24 Bundesliga player of the season takes a couple of touches and lets fly towards the near post. The ball fizzes in and Bayer 04 lead.
2'
vs
Frisky Frimpong
Back in the starting line-up tonight, Frimpong is running at the Feyenoord defence straight from the off.
1'
vs
Game on!
Feyenoord get the game underway ...
vs
Anthem time
Both teams are out on the pitch and it's time for the Champions League anthem ...
vs
Teams in tunnel
Both sets of players are gathering in the tunnel at De Kuip ... not long now.
vs
Leverkusen starting XI
Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Terrier, Wirtz - Boniface
vs
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Adli, Mukiele, García, Palacios, Belocian
vs
Feyenoord starting XI
Wellenreuther - Lotomba, Beelen, Trauner, Hancko - Hwang, Milambo, Zerrouki, Timber (c) - Milambo, Giménez, Paixão
vs
Feyenoord subs
Bijlow, Berger, Smal, Ueda, Gonzalez, Ivanušec, Carranza, Mitchell, Hadj Moussa, Zechiel, Nadje, Osman
244s
vs
Watch: Boniface under analysis
We've been putting one of Leverkusen's biggest threats under the tactical microscope ahead of their trip to Rotterdam...