Bundesliga
Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Champions League LIVE!
Bayer Leverkusen will start off their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign away against Feyenoord at De Kuip on Thursday (kick-off: 6.45pm CEST).
LIVE blog!
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Feyenoord
FIRST HALF
Leverkusen
26'
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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'
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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'
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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'
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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'
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Home chance
In-Beom Hwang makes some space for himself and swipes a shot at the target which Hrádecký saves easily enough.
8'
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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'
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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'
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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'
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Frisky Frimpong
Back in the starting line-up tonight, Frimpong is running at the Feyenoord defence straight from the off.
1'
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Game on!
Feyenoord get the game underway ...
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Anthem time
Both teams are out on the pitch and it's time for the Champions League anthem ...
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Teams in tunnel
Both sets of players are gathering in the tunnel at De Kuip ... not long now.
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Leverkusen starting XI
Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Terrier, Wirtz - Boniface
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Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Adli, Mukiele, García, Palacios, Belocian
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Feyenoord starting XI
Wellenreuther - Lotomba, Beelen, Trauner, Hancko - Hwang, Milambo, Zerrouki, Timber (c) - Milambo, Giménez, Paixão
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Feyenoord subs
Bijlow, Berger, Smal, Ueda, Gonzalez, Ivanušec, Carranza, Mitchell, Hadj Moussa, Zechiel, Nadje, Osman
244s
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Watch: Boniface under analysis
We've been putting one of Leverkusen's biggest threats under the tactical microscope ahead of their trip to Rotterdam...
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Feyenoord probable XI
Wellenreuther - Nieuwkoop, Beelen (c), Hancko, Smal - Milambo, Zerrouki, Timber - Ivanušec, Giménez, Paixão
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Leverkusen probable XI
Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Boniface
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Gameday!
Wins for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund mean it's two from three for Bundesliga clubs in the Champions League this week, with VfB Stuttgart's defeat to champions Real Madrid the outlier. It's over to Leverkusen and Leipzig tonight, with the German champions in Rotterdam to take on Feyenoord. Kick-off is at 9pm CEST and, in the meantime, we'll have all the build-up, starting with some pre-match quotes...
69s
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Watch: Alonso and Bayer back in the UCL
Alonso won the Champions League twice as a player - how will he fare in the competition as head coach of defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen?
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Watch: Leverkusen U.S trophy tour
It was quite the campaign for Leverkusen last term as they won the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. This week, the trophies have been on tour in the USA...
123s
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Watch: Hoffenheim 1-4 Leverkusen - highlights
The German champions picked up their second win of the season thanks in large part to Victor Boniface's double - their Dutch opponents, meanwhile, have won just one of their opening four league games.
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It's been a while
Leverkusen have not faced a Dutch side since the 1994/95 UEFA Cup third round when they defeated PSV Eindhoven 5-4 in a first-leg thriller at home. The second leg was goalless.
180s
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Entertainers supreme
In an unbelievable 2023/24 unbeaten domestic season, Bayer 04 were crowned Bundesliga champions for the very first time, which propelled the Meisterschale winners into a newly formed Champions League opening phase.
720s
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Here we go!
So, then, it's time for the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Supercup champions to get their UEFA Champions League campaign underway! Xabi Alonso's men are all set to tackle Feyenoord, which means its time to learn all their is to know about the Werkself!
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Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's opening UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Feyenoord of the Netherlands.
- 5 reasons why Leverkusen will beat Feyenoord
- Bayer Leverkusen head stateside for US trophy tour
- How does the new-format Champions League work?
- Munich's Allianz Arena will host this season's final
- All European fixtures for Bundesliga teams in 2024/25
Latest
Leverkusen's stunning unbeaten Bundesliga triumph last term has earned them a rightful return to Europe's elite, having also reached the UEFA Europa League final. Their run without defeat in the German top flight may be over after a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig on Matchday 2, but they have still won four of their five games so far, including an impressive 4-1 victory over Hoffenheim at the weekend. They also have a trophy this campaign in the Supercup. They are well in contention to go far on their return to the Champions League and will be eager to kick off with all three points in Rotterdam. With Exequiel Palacios once again available following a knee operation, Xabi Alonso had a full squad available to him, including all of his key lieutenants. The tactician opted for just one change to the team that defeated Hoffenheim at the weekend, with Jeremie Frimpong replacing Nathan Tella on the flank. Florian Wirtz - who has three goals to his name this term for Leverkusen and also recently found the back of the net for Germany on international duty - and weekend brace-scorer Victor Boniface remain Alonso's key threats here. The main dilemma between the sticks was resolved, with Lukáš Hrádecký starting in Matěj Kovář's stead.
Feyenoord finished second to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie last term, losing just two of their 34 matches, while they even got one over the eventual champions by beating them in the Dutch Cup final. They also edged the same opponents out on penalties in the domestic Supercup in August, but the summer has not been without its difficulties. Mats Wieffer and new Leipzig man Lutsharel Geertruida, two of their best performers, were sold, while second-top goalscorer Yankuba Minteh returned to the English Premier League after a loan spell. Perhaps the biggest setback of all was head coach Arne Slot's switch to Liverpool. However, their leading striker, Santiago Giménez, remains at the club, while David Háncko and Antoni Milambo have enjoyed strong starts to the campaign. New boss Brian Priske will be without Calvin Stengs and Quilindschy Hartman. Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made eight Bundesliga appearances for Schalke way back in 2014/15 and starts here.
Watch: Leverkusen's best goals during their 35-game unbeaten Bundesliga run
Match stats
- Alonso will make 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).
- Wirtz is primed to take his Champions League bow. Across the last four Europa League seasons, he's been involved in more goals (12 of his own and 12 assists), and created more chances (88) than any other player.
- Boniface struck five times in eight Europa League games for Leverkusen in 2023/24, averaging a goal every 76 minutes and finding the back of the net on all four of his starts. Ulf Kirsten is the only Bayer player to score in five successive major European competition starts, doing so twice in runs ending in 1994 and 1999.
- Alonso's team scored 31 goals in 13 games in the Europa League last season - the highest tally of any club side in European competition in 2023/24 (excluding qualifying matches).
- 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 unbeaten in their previous six UEFA competition games against Dutch opposition (W3, D3).
CONFIRMED line-ups
Feyenoord: Wellenreuther - Lotomba, Beelen, Trauner, Hancko - Hwang, Milambo, Zerrouki, Timber (c) - Milambo, Giménez, Paixão
Subs: Bijlow, Berger, Smal, Ueda, Gonzalez, Ivanušec, Carranza, Mitchell, Hadj Moussa, Zechiel, Nadje, Osman
Out: Hartman (knee), Stengs (knee)
Coach: Brian Priske
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Terrier, Wirtz - Boniface
Subs: Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Adli, Mukiele, García, Palacios, Belocian
Out: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso