Manchester City faced a setback in the Champions League, losing 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen. This match marked Pep Guardiola's 100th game in charge of City in this competition. Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick scored for Leverkusen, while City's efforts were thwarted by a solid defensive display from the German side. This defeat was City's first in the tournament this season.
Guardiola made significant changes to his lineup, retaining only Nico Gonzalez from the team that lost to Newcastle United. Despite these changes, City started aggressively, with Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders testing Leverkusen's goalkeeper, Mark Flekken. However, it was Leverkusen who took the lead in the 23rd minute when Christian Kofane set up Grimaldo for a precise
finish into the bottom-right corner.
City continued to press forward, creating opportunities as Reijnders forced another save from Flekken. Oscar Bobb also saw his deflected cross saved by the Dutch goalkeeper. In contrast, Leverkusen doubled their lead early in the second half when Schick headed past James Trafford. Despite Erling Haaland coming off the bench, he couldn't find a way past Flekken.
Rayan Cherki had a late free-kick attempt denied by Flekken as well. Guardiola's tactical adjustments didn't yield the desired results against a resilient Leverkusen defence. The Bundesliga side showcased their determination and defensive prowess throughout the match.
Alejandro Grimaldo has been instrumental for Leverkusen this season, scoring his eighth goal across all competitions. This tally is twice what he achieved last season and makes him the club's top scorer for 2025-26. His performance against City highlighted his leadership on the field.
Leverkusen's defensive resilience was evident after their earlier heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Despite City's 19 shots resulting in an expected goals (xG) of 1.84, Leverkusen managed only seven attempts with an xG of 0.55 but emerged victorious.
This loss marked City's first home defeat to a German club in the Champions League since 2013 when Guardiola led Bayern Munich to victory over them. The result underscores Leverkusen's ability to compete at this level despite previous setbacks.
8 Alejandro Grimaldo scored his 8th goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in all competitions this season, the most of any player for the club in 2025-26 and twice as many as he managed last season (4 in 48 apps). Leader. pic.twitter.com/qKHbvSt3sF OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 25, 2025
The match demonstrated Leverkusen's ability to defend effectively against top teams like Manchester City. Their disciplined approach and strategic execution allowed them to capitalise on key moments and secure an important victory away from home.
