Feyenoord – Leverkusen: An Unforgettable Champions League Clash
Feyenoord – Leverkusen: A Champions League Showdown
Leverkusen's offensive player Florian Wirtz currently stands among the most coveted footballers in the world. His market value is a staggering €130 million. In Rotterdam, he proved why, needing just over four and a half minutes in his very first Champions League match to put the visitors ahead with a precise low shot from about 18 meters. Wirtz doubled the lead in the 36th minute following a straightforward counter-attack and a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo, who scored the second goal in the 30th minute by striking in the penalty box to make it 3-0. Swiss player Jordan Lotomba from Feyenoord struggled to keep pace with Wirtz and was substituted in the 61st minute. Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka, the captain of the Swiss national team, played until the 80th minute, showcasing his typical high number of ball contacts but failing to make significant impacts.
The first half ended with a resounding 4-0 scoreline, against a Feyenoord side that had not lost in a competitive match since December 13, 2023, also in the Champions League against Celtic Glasgow (1-2). The match concluded with Feyenoord Rotterdam losing to Bayer Leverkusen 0-4 (0-4). Referee Massa officiated the match, with goals from: 5. Wirtz 0-1, 30. Grimaldo 0-2, 36. Wirtz 0-3, and an own goal by Wellenreuther 0-4 at 45. The match featured notable performances from Lotomba for Feyenoord and Xhaka for Leverkusen.
Highlights of Other Matches
In another Champions League encounter, Benfica Lisbon managed to defeat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 in a closely contested match. This was made possible by a strong start with goals from Turkish players Kerem Aktürkoglu and Orkun Kökcü, the latter scoring a stunning free-kick within the first half-hour. Red Star applied pressure in the 86th minute with a goal from Milson, but Benfica held firm until the end. The outcome was Red Star Belgrade 1, Benfica Lisbon 2 (0-2), with goals at 9. Aktürkoglu 0-1, 29. Kökcü 0-2, and 86. Milson 1-2, while Amdouni was substituted in the 88th minute.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.