Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Newcastle United 2:2 (1:0)
With a late equalizer, Bayer Leverkusen beat Newcastle United in the Champions League a draw secured. Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team initially took the lead against the English Premier League club with an own goal from Bruno Guimarães (13th minute), before Anthony Gordon (51st) and Lewis Miley (74th) turned the game around. Thanks to a goal from Alejandro Grimaldo (88th), Leverkusen saved a point.
This means the Bundesliga club still has a good chance of reaching the knockout rounds in the premier class. Leverkusen now has nine points on its account, Newcastle with the German Nick Woltemade ten.
Leverkusen started the game hesitantly after it was announced shortly before kick-off that head coach Hjulmand would be missing for personal reasons. However, under the guidance of assistant coach Rogier Meijer, the team got better and better into the game, especially defensively, they maintained a lot of control over Woltemade. Guimarães’ own goal ensured a comfortable start with several good chances to score.
However, Newcastle became increasingly aggressive and applied offensive pressure. A mistake by Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken and the subsequent penalty from Gordon in the 51st minute initiated the turnaround. It was also Gordon who later put Miley in the spotlight before he took the lead. But Leverkusen didn’t give in, increased the pressure again and were rewarded with an equalizer shortly before the end.
Borussia Dortmund – FK Bodø/Glimt 2:2 (1:1)
For Borussia Dortmund The 6th matchday of the Champions League ends with disappointment. Against the Norwegian runner-up FK Bodø/Glimt, BVB couldn’t get past a 2-2 (1-1) draw. Julian Brandt put his team in the lead twice (18th/51st), Haitam Aleesami (42nd) and Jens Petter Hauge (75th) each equalized.
This means that Dortmund misses an early entry into the play-offs. With eleven points, BVB next has to play against Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.
Dortmund went into the game against Bodø/Glimt as clear favorites and immediately put pressure on them. Brandt’s first goal took the lead early. After a great chance from Maximilian Beier it was almost 2-0 (20th). Instead, Aleesami was surprisingly completely free shortly before the break and headed in to equalize. Thanks to Brandt’s second goal, BVB still seemed to have secured victory, but they continued to miss many good chances. After Hauge’s equalizer, the team was no longer able to take the lead again.
“It’s not bitter, it’s just really bad,” said central defender Nico Schlotterbeck after the game. His team showed “far too little”. A winning mentality also means finishing the game. “We couldn’t manage that at all,” said Schlotterbeck.
Read Tuesday’s match report here.
