Bayer Leverkusen Spoil Guardiola’s 100th European Match with 2–0 Victory Over Manchester City

Key Takeaways:

• Manchester City suffered a 0–2 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League fifth-round fixture
• Pep Guardiola marked his 100th Champions League match with City
• Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick both scored for the German side, handing City their first Champions League loss this season

Bayer Leverkusen Strike in Both Halves

Manchester City endured their maiden defeat in this season’s Champions League group stage, falling 0–2 to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium during Pep Guardiola’s 100th European assignment at the helm. The Spanish manager made many changes with ten fresh faces compared to City’s previous outing against Newcastle in the Premier League – a decision that ultimately did not yield dividends.

A much-changed Manchester City side fall to defeat against Bayer Leverkusen 🔄 pic.twitter.com/I47wXWTEhm

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 25, 2025

Leverkusen asserted their presence early, and it was skipper Alejandro Grimaldo who drew first blood in the 23rd minute. A well-worked sequence began with Ibrahim Maza delivering a cross from the right, which was deftly glanced by Kristian Kofane into Grimaldo’s path. The captain found himself ample room to shoot from 15 metres, firing past James Trafford to open the scoring for the visitors.

Manchester City’s Attacking Changes Fall Short

The hosts attempted to rally before the interval, but Mark Flekken proved up to the challenge, denying efforts from Oscar Bobb and Tijjani Reijnders to preserve Leverkusen’s advantage. Guardiola responded by introducing Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Nico O’Reilly at half-time to inject urgency into City’s play.

However, Bayer Leverkusen continued to threaten, and just nine minutes after the restart, they struck again. Maza was again integral to the build-up, delivering a dangerous ball that Patrik Schick nodded home with precision to put the German side 2–0 up in the 54th minute.

Late Pressure Cannot Avert Defeat

In pursuit of a way back into the contest, City brought on Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki. The Norwegian striker nearly halved the deficit in the 69th minute, latching onto a brilliant through-ball from Foden, but Flekken thwarted him at close range. The Leverkusen goalkeeper was called into action once more, producing an excellent save from a Cherki free-kick just six minutes before full-time.

Despite a raft of substitutions and concerted late pressure, City were unable to break through the resilient Leverkusen defence, who secured all three points and ended City’s unbeaten run in this season’s competition.