26 Nov 2025, 00:32
Manchester City defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League
- Bayer Leverkusen lost to City with a score of 2:0 at the "Etihad" stadium
- Grimaldo and Shik scored goals for Bayer Leverkusen
- Guardiola made 10 changes to the lineup after the defeat to Newcastle
On November 25, 2025, Manchester City recorded a defeat against Bayern Leverkusen in the Champions League match, which became the first defeat for the team this season. The game took place at the "Etihad" stadium, where City won with a score of 2:0.
In the first half, Bayer Leverkusen's captain Alejandro Grimaldo scored a goal, realizing his chance in the 23rd minute. Grimaldo, who was injured on the field during the second half, became an important figure for Bayer Leverkusen, especially after the change of trainer to Kasper Hjulmand.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola decided to make ten changes to the lineup after the defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League. Only Nico Gonzalez retained his place in the starting lineup. This risky step did not justify itself, as the team looked disjointed and had little threat in attack.
After the break, Guardiola made changes, bringing on Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Nico O'Reilly. However, this did not change the flow of the game. In the 54th minute, Patrick Shik doubled Bayer Leverkusen's lead, scoring with a header.
After the introduction of Erling Haaland and Ryan Cherki, City sought to get back into the game, but did not manage to capitalize on their chances. Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated strong defense, while goalkeeper Mark Flecken made several important saves, including stopping a shot from Haaland.
This defeat became the second consecutive loss for Manchester City, which puts pressure on the team ahead of their next match against Leeds United in the Premier League. Guardiola will return to reconsidering his lineup, especially since the team is awaiting important matches in the Champions League and domestic competitions.
Tags: Sport/Football/UEFA Champions League