Pep Guardiola’s 100th UEFA Champions League game as Manchester City manager ended in a tough night as Bayer Leverkusen produced a clinical display to secure a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, only their second UCL away victory against English opposition (D1, L8).
Guardiola made 10 changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Newcastle in the Premier League, but the rotated squad struggled to find rhythm. City started on the front foot, with Nathan Ake forcing Mark Flekken into a smart save at the near post, but Leverkusen quickly took control.
The visitors opened the scoring midway through the first half. Christian Kofane cushioned a cross to Alejandro Grimaldo, who fired a low strike past James Trafford. City threatened to respond before halftime, but Tijjani Reijnders’ shot was kept out by Flekken.
At the break, Guardiola brought on Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Nico O’Reilly to add energy, yet Leverkusen struck again within 10 minutes. Patrik Schick rose above Ake to head in Ibrahim Maza’s inswinging cross, doubling the lead and marking consecutive European goals for the forward.
Erling Haaland entered to spark a comeback but was denied by Flekken, who also blocked Rayan Cherki’s late free-kick to maintain Leverkusen’s clean sheet.
The result leaves Bayer Leverkusen climbing to 13th in the group, just two points behind sixth-placed City, who suffered their first defeat of the Champions League season.
