Bayer Leverkusen cruise past Celje in UEFA Europa League opener

Bayer Leverkusen began the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League with a 2-0 home win over Slovenia’s Celje on Wednesday night, with Carles Martínez' side putting in an assured performance to take all three points.

Bayer Leverkusen 2–0 NK Celje
Goals: 1-0 Sešlar 15‘ (o.g.), 2-0 Medina 74’

The Werkself started the game on the front foot, with both Martin Terrier and Edmond Tapsoba going close to opening the scoring early on. They found the breakthrough not long after those chances went begging, when a dangerous Aleix García cross was deflected into his own net by Celje's Svit Sešlar. The visitors did have a couple of good chances of their own through Benjamin Verbič and Sešlar, but still went into the break lucky to only be a goal down.

Leverkusen started the second-half with the same intent as the first, but not quite with the same level of productivity. Aside from an early chance for Facundo Medina, there wasn't much to separate the teams in the opening exchanges of the half. Nevertheless, Martínez's side pushed on, and they eventually found a second goal through Medina, who volleyed home from a corner with just over 15 minutes to play, all but confirming the win.

As it happened!

2 - 0

(1 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Celje

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 BayArena

Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 NK Celje

The Werkself start their Europa League campaign with a comfortable win over Celje, with Medina scoring a late second-half goal to confirm their win. The visitors certainly saw more of the ball in the second 45 but never really threatened, while the hosts, on the other hand, always looked like being able to create something, and therefore grab a deserved win tonight in front of a home crowd.

© IMAGO/Nordphoto/Meuter

Full-time

90'

Three more minutes

Only three minutes stand between Leverkusen and their win.

88'

Cruising toward victory

The three points appear all but confirmed with just a few minutes remaining.

83'

Closing stages

Less than 10 minutes separate Leverkusen from a winning start to their Europe League campaign.

80'

Substitution

Papa Daniel

Luka Tičić

80'

Substitution

Eliesse Ben Seghir

Moussa Diaby

78'

Side-netting!

Kofane tries a quick turn and shot, but can't find the target.

Medina slams home a second!

The following corner from Leban's awkward save goes all the way to the back post, where Medina volleys home a much needed second goal for the hosts.

© IMAGO/DeFodi.de

74'

Facundo Medina

GOAL!

2:0

72'

Almost!

Moreira hits one from range, which Leban spills onto the bar and out for a corner.

72'

Werkself keep pushing

Tapsoba tries to slip in Quansah inside the area, but his pass is too strong and goes out for a goal-kick.

71'

Substitution

Christian Kofane

Patrik Schick

69'

Substitution

Veton Tusha

Benjamin Verbič

Important half hour

Leverkusen need to regain some control if they're to protect their one-goal lead, with Celje looking more threatening going forward.

© IMAGO/DeFodi.de

60'

Substitution

Matic Ivanšek

Yaya Dukuly

60'

Substitution

Blaz Kramer

Milot Avdyli

60'

Substitution

Ezequiel Fernández

Martin Terrier

60'

Substitution

Afonso Moreira

Malik Tillman

60'

Substitution

Lucas Vázquez

Lucas Vázquez

56'

Dukuly fires over

The ball falls to him just outside the area and he goes to bend it into the top corner first-time, but gets too much on his effort.

51'

Leban keeps Celje in it!

A dangerous cross bounces off a Celje leg close to goal, with Medina the first to react to the rebound. He flicks an effort toward the far corner, which Leban does fantastically to push away from goal.

50'

Back at it

Leverkusen have immediately resumed their search for a second goal.

46'

We're back!

The action is underway once more.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 NK Celje

The hosts go into the break with a narrow, but deserved, lead. They started as they meant to go on, with Diaby and Terrier causing their backline problems from the first minute. After a flurry of early chances, the Werkself took the lead through an own goal, when Sešlar flicked home a fierce cross from García. Celje did grow into the half and created a couple of good chances, but were otherwise overwhelmed by Leverkusen.

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Yannis Dreimann

43'

Incredible save!

Verbič delivers a dangerous in-swinging cross which finds the head of Sešlar, who directs his header toward the near bottom corner from close range. Flekken is well-positioned, and palms the ball away from goal.

40'

Magic from García

He cuts through the Celje backline with an outstanding ball into the feet of Terrier, putting him one-on-one with the 'keeper. Leban is out quickly, however, and able to smother Terrier's shot.

Confident display

Leverkusen have looked the part in this first-half.

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Yannis Dreimann

36'

Glanced over

A cross toward the back post finds Schick, who can't keep his effort down as he dives toward it.

34'

Tidy football

García plays a one-two with Schick before bending an effort goalward which is deflected over from inside the box. Celje clear the following corner.

30'

Flekken tested

Verbič cuts inside before forcing the Leverkusen 'keeper into a save, who then reacts well to also collect the rebound.

28'

Probing

Celje enjoy a spell of possession in Leverkusen's defensive third, which ends with Flekken collecting the ball from a cross into a good area.

21'

In full flow

Leverkusen have already created a handful of good chances and could have more than one goal to their name.

Leverkusen take the lead!

Another brilliant García delivery causes problems once more. He delivers from the left this time in search of Terrier, who misses the header but sees the ball flicked into his own goal by Sešlar behind him.

© Lars Baron

15'

Sešlar

OWN GOAL!

1:0

14'

Huge save!

García swings in a free-kick from the right which finds Tapsoba at the far post, forcing a brilliant reaction save from Leban.

12'

Off the post!

Terrier tries his luck from distance, hitting the inside of the far post with his powerful low shot.

7'

Warming up

Celje are starting to see more of the ball.

4'

Strong start

The hosts have started on the front foot, with almost all the possession in their half so far.

Kick-off!

Final preparations

Kick-off isn't far away now.

© IMAGO/Nordphoto/Meuter

The stage is set

The BayArena is ready for tonight's action.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Scott Coleman

Celje to bounce back?

The visitors come into this fixture on the back of a domestic defeat to Bravo, losing 2-1 away from home. They currently sit seventh in their league.

More on that Leverkusen team

The hosts make six changes to the side that drew with Augsburg. Badé, Vázquez, Andrich (pictured), Tillman, Terrier and Schick come in for Gutiérrez, Quansah, Fernández, Maza, Moreira and Kofane.

© IMAGO/Nordphoto / Hafner

Leverkusen starting XI

Flekken - Vázquez, Badé, Tapsoba (c), Medina - Andrich, García - Diaby, Tillman, Terrier - Schick

Leverkusen subs

Blaswich, Lomb, Gutiérrez, Quansah, Fernández, Afonso Moreira, Ben Seghir, Kofane

Celje starting XI

Leban - Širvys, Bejger, Tutyškinas - Avdyli, Zabukovnik (c), Sešlar, Tičić, Verbič - Dukuly, Kučys

Celje subs

Kolar, Frelih, Hrka, Kvesić, Kramer, Daniel, Diounkou, Tusha, Suhovršnik, Koutris, Ivanšek

Zabukovnik and Zeljković on facing Leverkusen

Celje captain, Mark Zabukovnik, praised Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday evening's press conference. "They are a very good side with a high level of individual quality," he said, a statement echoed by head coach Zoran Zeljković: "Our opponents undoubtedly have individual quality; they punish even the slightest mistake."

© IMAGO/MICHAL FAJT,ZOSPORTU.SK

Play video

11:19

Watch: All of Schick's Bundesliga goals

Patrik Schick has three Bundesliga goals in as many games in 2026/27, taking his tally to 93 strikes in 174 matches in Germany's top flight during his time at RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.

Play video

0:53

Watch: Martínez and García preview the game

Maza doubtful

Attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza missed the team's final training session ahead of the game on Tuesday morning due to a cold, leaving his participation hanging in the balance. “We’ll see how he’s feeling later today and then again over the course of tomorrow," said Martínez.

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Flekken to start in goal

Martínez confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that Mark Flekken will remain between the posts for this game: “Mark is an outstanding role model and a model professional. He leads by example and, together with the others, is part of an excellent goalkeeping team.”

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Martínez on Leverkusen's Europa League aims

“We have high ambitions. If we want to go far and be successful, we need to make a good start tomorrow and get the win. But it’s not just about winning – it’s also about how we do it.”

© IMAGO/Sebastian Bach

Carles Martínez on Celje

“We’ve obviously analysed them in detail over the past few days and weeks, just as we do with every opponent. They only narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, so we have a lot of respect for them, as we always do. But with a new coach in charge, we don’t know exactly what to expect – whether they’ll press high or sit deep, look to have possession, or play with a back four or a back five. In any case, our main focus is on ourselves.”

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

More from García

“We’re really excited about this competition. The club wants to win it and so do we as a team – that has to be our goal. And hopefully that long journey starts tomorrow.”

© IMAGO/Bernd Feil/M.i.S.

Aleix García on facing Celje

"Maintaining full concentration for the entire game is the most important thing. Of course, we’re the favourites on paper, but we have to live up to that billing on the pitch tomorrow. I’m confident we can do that because we have an excellent team."

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Simon Rolfes on Onyeka's and Eichhorn's achievements

“The gold medals for Kennet and Francis are fantastic personal accolades. You can’t get any better than this in youth football in Germany. They’ve made their mark at a very early stage in professional football and have absolutely earned it. They are outstanding players in their respective age groups. Francis has even received the medal for the second time [...] He has played for Leverkusen since he was a child, and this is, of course, of particular significance to us.”

© IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

Double Fritz Walter gold glory for Leverkusen

Werkself starlets Francis Onyeka (pictured), who is currently on loan at Elversberg, and Kennet Eichhorn each won gold in their respective U19 and U17 Fritz Walter medal categories - the most prestigious individual award in German youth football - for their performances in the 2025/26 season. In so doing, the pair follow in the illustrious footsteps of the likes of international stars Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah. Incidentally, this is Onyeka's second gold medal after winning the U17 category two years prior.

© IMAGO/Niklas Heiden

Play video

0:57

Watch: Augsburg 2-2 Leverkusen - highlights

Substitute Patrik Schick scored late as Bayer Leverkusen fought back to rescue a point in their final Bundesliga game before their Europa League opener.

Familiar final venue

Leverkusen are well acquainted with the location of the 2026/27 final, namely Eintracht Frankfurt's Deutsche Bank Park on Wednesday 26 May 2027.

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Simon Hofmann

Play video

2:50

Watch: Diaby back as new-look Leverkusen take shape

Moussa Diaby has rejoined Leverkusen, where a whole host of new faces are beginning to find their feet.

Celje's last European campaign: 2025/26

Slovenian side Celje took part in the UEFA Europa Conference League last season and finished 13th in the league phase. This meant they qualified for the play-off round, where they beat Kosovan outfit FC Drita 6-4 on aggregate. However, Greek giants AEK Athens proved too much for Celje in the round of 16, winning the tie 4-2.

© IMAGO/One Inch Productions

Leverkusen's last European campaign: 2025/26

Leverkusen competed in the UEFA Champions League last season, making it through to the round of 16, where they lost to eventual finalists Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate. On their way to the round of 16, Die Werkself finished 16th in the league phase, during which they surprised Manchester City with an impressive 2-0 away win. In the play-off round, Leverkusen overcame Greek side Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate.

© UWE KRAFT

Welcome!

Follow all of the build-up and live action as Bayer Leverkusen kick off the league phase of the UEFA Europa League by hosting Celje on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

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