Pep Guardiola’s landmark 100th Champions League match as Manchester City manager ended in a sobering 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, a result that leaves the Premier League champions playing catch-up in the race for the knockout stage.
With only Nico González surviving from the side beaten by Newcastle at the weekend, Guardiola made ten changes and paid the price.
A vibrant Leverkusen, expertly marshalled by Kasper Hjulmand, exploited the lack of cohesion to claim their first victory over English opposition in this competition since 2002.
City began brightly enough. Nathan Aké’s header drew a sharp save from Mark Flekken and Tijjani Reijnders tested the Dutch goalkeeper again moments later. Yet the hosts were punished for wastefulness in the 23rd minute.
Ibrahim Maza’s teasing cross was helped on by Christian Kofane and Alejandro Grimaldo, once of Barcelona’s academy but now a Leverkusen mainstay, swept a precise first-time finish into the far corner.
The visitors continued to probe. Reijnders forced another fine stop and Oscar Bobb saw a deflected cross clawed away, but City’s profligacy proved costly.
Seven minutes into the second half Patrik Schick rose unmarked to power a header beyond the blameless James Trafford and effectively settle the contest.
Erling Haaland’s introduction added physical presence yet even the Norwegian could not breach Flekken, who repelled both a close-range effort and a late Rayan Cherki free-kick with authority. Leverkusen’s defence, disciplined and streetwise, rarely looked flustered.
For Guardiola, whose side had taken 13 points from their opening five group games, this was a first European reverse of the campaign and a reminder that heavy rotation carries risk in a competition that waits for no one.
