Alejandro Grimaldo denies Newcastle to keep Bayer Leverkusen in UEFA Champions League knockouts contention

Alejandro Grimaldo scored a late equaliser as Bayer Leverkusen drew with Newcastle United to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase via the play-offs.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle United
Goals: 1-0 Guimarães o.g. 13', 1-1 Gordon pen. 51', 1-2 Miley 74' (assist: Gordon), 2-2 Grimaldo 88' (assist: Maza)

Buoyed by back-to-back Champions League wins over Benfica and Manchester City, as well as talisman Grimaldo's return to the starting line-up following injury, Leverkusen made a dream start at the BayArena. Aleix García's corner caused all sorts of problems for the Newcastle defence as Bruno Guimarães diverted Robert Andrich's flick-on beyond his own goalkeeper with just 13 minutes on the clock.

Newcastle tried to find a way back into the contest, but Harvey Barnes could not find a way past Mark Flekken following a driving run up the right-hand side. Germany international Nick Woltemade shot wide with a miscued attempt, before a full-stretch Flekken prevented Tino Livramento's cross deflecting in off García.

At the other end, only Aaron Ramsdale's reflexes stopped Jarrell Quansah from finding the top corner with a shot from the edge of the Newcastle area late in a competitive first half.

Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich forced the opening goal at the BayArena. - IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Meuter

Leverkusen survived a scare soon after the restart when Lewis Hall shot narrowly wide from range, before a mistake by Flekken allowed the visitors back into the game. The Dutchman was penalised for bringing down Woltemade after being caught in possession by the former Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart man, with Anthony Gordon sinking the ensuing penalty for 1-1.

The game opened up thereafter as Gordon struck the woodwork and Edmond Tapsoba got in the way of a goal-bound effort from Woltemade. Bayer returned fire through Ernest Poku, but his strike was deflected over the bar.

Newcastle made their next opening stick as substitute Lewis Miley headed in Gordon's probing 74th-minute cross. Leverkusen went straight back on the attack, but Nathan Tella and Christian Kofane couldn't beat Ramsdale.

Leverkusen were hanging on as Flekken pulled off a superb save to deny Germany's Malick Thiaw and Guimarães fired against the woodwork. However, the hosts found a way back in the 88th minute when Grimaldo nestled a right-footed shot beyond Ramsdale to keep his side among the 16 teams aiming to reach the knockouts via the play-offs, ahead of January games against Olympiacos and Villarreal.

Match stats

• Leverkusen are 20th in the league-phase standings, outside the seeded play-off spots on goal difference, but three points clear of the elimination places.
• Grimaldo scored his ninth competitive goal of the season (three in the Champions League).
• Bayer have lost just one of their last seven UEFA matches against English teams (W3, D3).
• Die Werkself have also lost only two of their last 10 league-phase matches, winning five and drawing three.
• After winning their first four UEFA matches against German teams, Newcastle are now winless in four encounters against Bundesliga opposition (D2, L2).
• The only previous UEFA meetings between Leverkusen and Newcastle came in the 2002/03 Champions League second group stage. The English side won 3-1 at home and away.

Teams

Leverkusen: Flekken – Andrich (c), Quansah, Tapsoba – Arthur (Badé 90'), Maza, García, Grimaldo – Tillman (Echeverri 85'), Poku (Tella 71') – Schick (Kofane 46')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Lomb, Tape, Ben Seghir, Belocian
Out: Fernández (knee), Hofmann (ineligible), Palacios (groin), Terrier (ineligible), Vázquez (back)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Newcastle: Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Guimarães (c), Joelinton (Miley 60') – Gordon (Ramsey 90'+3), Woltemade (Wissa 90'+3), Barnes (Murphy 78')
Unused subs: Thompson, Harrison, Schär, Elanga, Willock
Out: Botman (hamstring), Krafth (knee), Osula (ankle), Pope (groin), Trippier (hamstring)
Coach: Eddie Howe

As it happened!

2 - 2

(1 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Newcastle

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 6 League phase, Matchday 6 BayArena

Full-time: Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle

It ends level in a great game of football. Leverkusen led at the break, but Newcastle were much improved in the second half and turned the game around through goals from Gordon and Miley. Leverkusen didn't give up, however, and Grimaldo equalised late on to give the hosts a share of the points. The result sees Leverkusen finish the year in 20th.

© PAU BARRENA

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Not far away

Tapsoba unleashes a volley from the edge of the box that just misses the target. Ramsdale was a little worried for a second.

90'

+ 3

Substitution

Jacob Ramsey

Anthony Gordon

90'

+ 3

Substitution

Yoane Wissa

Nick Woltemade

90'

+ 1

Close

Livramento finds Thiaw at the back post. He tries a difficult volley and narrowly clears the crossbar. This could still go either way.

90'

Added time

Four extra minutes to be played.

90'

Substitution

Loïc Badé

Arthur

Grimaldo levels!

The Spaniard dummies a pass from García that runs through for Maza. The Algerian then slots Grimaldo through, and Leverkusen's star man tucks home to make it 2-2!

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Meusel

88'

Alejandro Grimaldo

GOAL!

2:2

85'

Substitution

Claudio Echeverri

Malik Tillman

83'

Dangerous

A good corner causes chaos in the box, but Newcastle just about survive to clear.

82'

Yellow card

Aaron Ramsdale

82'

Tella tests Ramsdale

Ramsdale is forced to clear under pressure, and Leverkusen win the ball back in a good position. Tella has space to shoot inside the box, but Ramsdale makes a good save.

82'

Guimarães hits the post

The Newcastle captain lets fly from the edge of the box and hits the far post. Leverkusen survive again.

81'

Almost 3-1!

Tonali has all the time in the world to send in his cross, and Thiaw gets up well to meet it. Flekken reacts brilliantly to make the reaction stop.

78'

Substitution

Jacob Murphy

Harvey Barnes

76'

Leverkusen almost answer back

Tella flicks a Grimaldo cross towards goal that Ramsdale palms away. The ball is then recycled to Kofane, who shoots with his left, but Ramsdale is there again.

Miley gives Newcastle the lead!

Gordon beats Arthur on the left and stands up a cross to the centre that is met by the head of Miley for his first Champions League goal. Newcastle have turned the game around.

© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Meuter

74'

Lewis Miley

GOAL!

1:2

71'

Substitution

Nathan Tella

Ernest Poku

70'

García shoots

But his shot is blocked. Maza also almost gets on the end of a corner, but narrowly misses the ball. At the other end, Miley almost gets his head on the ball in a dangerous position, but he too can't get a touch on the ball.

69'

Another counter chance

Tonali slips and Leverkusen break. Poku has the pace to get away before chopping inside and going for power. However, his effort is deflected over the bar.

64'

Woltemade again

The German striker gets the ball in the box and shoots, but Tapsoba gets the block in to avert the danger.

63'

Off the post

Gordon gets running at the Leverkusen defence and dips onto his left to shoot, only to see his effort bounce away off the far post.

63'

Woltemade gets up well

But he can't get his header on target under pressure from Andrich.

60'

Substitution

Lewis Miley

Joelinton

58'

Danger

Kofane finds himself with a moment of space in the box, but he scuffs his left-footed shot and Newcastle clear.

53'

Poku threatens

Straight from kick-off, Poku gets in down the left, but his cross is deflected behind for a corner.

Gordon slots home

Gordon steps up to take the spot kick and hammers it into the inner side-netting. Great penalty. Newcastle are level.

© PAU BARRENA

51'

Anthony Gordon

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

Disaster

Flekken takes far too long to clear, and Woltemade pounces. Flekken tries to redeem himself, but brings down the striker in the process. Penalty for the visitors.

© PAU BARRENA

50'

Penalty!

48'

Hall almost strikes

The left-back pinches the ball off Quansah and bursts into the Leverkusen box before shooting towards the far post. The effort just narrowly misses the target.

47'

Yellow card

Ernest Poku

46'

Back underway

The ball is moving again as Kofane comes on to replace Schick. The striker seemed to pick up an injury during that duel with Thiaw earlier on.

46'

Substitution

Christian Kofane

Patrik Schick

Kick-off!

3:32

Watch: Leverkusen renew Rhine rivalry with Cologne

Leverkusen have a long way to go today against Newcastle, but it won't get any easier after today's game as they face Cologne in a Rhineland derby at the weekend.

Half-time: Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle

The hosts lead at the break thanks to that deflected Andrich header and probably deservedly so. Leverkusen have allowed Newcastle to have most of the ball, but have then caused the English side some real problems on the break. Newcastle, meanwhile, have struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

© IMAGO/UWE KRAFT

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Quansah comes close

Tapsoba sends a great ball out to Arthur. The Brazilian does well to bring the ball down and set Quansah on the edge of the box. He shoots towards the top corner, but Ramsdale does well to tip the effort over the bar.

45'

Added time

Two minutes left to be played.

44'

Leverkusen counter

The ball breaks for a Leverkusen counter, and Grimaldo feeds Poku in behind. He charges towards goal before shooting with his left, but it is at a comfortable height for Ramsdale.

40'

Newcastle having more of the ball

Leverkusen are allowing their opponents to have plenty of the ball before counter-attacking to create chances.

Possession

4555

36'

Close

Livramento overlaps down the right and sends in a good flat cross that García has to deal with. However, he can only deflect the ball towards his own goal, where Flekken is forced to react to make the save.

Woltemade lurking

It hasn't quite fallen for the German striker so far, but Woltemade has been close to causing Leverkusen problems on a couple of occasions.

© IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

31'

Leverkusen survive

A dangerous Guimarães cross pinballs around the Leverkusen box, with Woltemade swinging a leg at it, but Leverkusen just about survive as the ball trickles out for a goal kick.

28'

Magical Maza

The Algerian is set loose in a one-on-one against Thiaw and successfully drives the defender back into his own box. Maza then chops inside and shoots, but Ramsdale makes the save.

24'

Grimaldo fires over

The Spaniard takes the resulting free-kick, but can't produce any magic this time as he misses the target.

21'

Penalty for the hosts?

Leverkusen break through the Newcastle press wonderfully with Tillman sending Schick through on goal. Thiaw brings the striker to ground and is perhaps lucky to only see yellow. VAR checks the decision and eventually decides the foul took place just outside the box.

21'

Yellow card

Malick Thiaw

16'

Another Barnes effort

The Newcastle winger cuts inside off the right and shoots from inside the box, but doesn't connect cleanly with his left-footed effort, and Flekken makes the save.

Leverkusen lead

A corner to the back post is met by Andrich. He attempts to head the ball back across goal, and the header hits Guimarães and deflects into the back of the net past Ramsdale.

© IMAGO/Thor Wegner/DeFodi Images

13'

Bruno Guimarães

OWN GOAL!

1:0

12'

Threatening

Tillman lays the ball off to Andrich, who shoots against a Newcastle player. Poku then gets into a good position at the byline, but can only win a corner.

8'

Almost dangerous

Flekken plays a loose ball out from the back that leads to Woltemade getting the ball in the box, but Leverkusen survive the scare. At the other end, Schick fires in a shot after a good counter, but his effort is immediately blocked.

6'

First shot

Guimarães spreads the play to Barnes on the right. He shoots, but Flekken gets down to make the save.

4'

An even start

Both sides are exchanging early possession and looking for openings. Maza almost created something after beating a couple of challenges, but his pass was intercepted.

1'

We're underway

Newcastle get the ball moving in Leverkusen.

Kick-off!

Players on the pitch

The Champions League anthem is playing, and the game is about to begin.

Danger from the wings

Barnes (centre) and Gordon (back left) have both scored four Champions League goals so far this season. That makes Newcastle the only team in the UCL to have two players with more than three goals.

© IMAGO/James Marsh/Shutterstock

Schick looking to match Dortmund star

If Schick scores tonight, he will become the first Czech player to score in three consecutive Champions League games since Dortmund's Jan Koller in the 2002/03 campaign.

4:32

Watch: Grimaldo - Leverkusen's beating heart

Alejandro Grimaldo has been crucial to Bayer Leverkusen's uptick under Kasper Hjulmand.

Hjulmand not on the sidelines

The Leverkusen coach will not be in attendance at tonight's game due to personal reasons. Assistant coach Rogier Meijer will take over management duties for the game.

More on those teams

Eddie Howe makes four changes to the Newcastle side that beat Burnley 2-1 at the weekend, with Tonali, Barnes, Hall and Joelinton coming into the team. That means Woltemade is starting on his return to Germany. Hjulmand, meanwhile, makes three changes to the side that lost 2-0 against Augsburg as Grimaldo returns from injury and Quansah and Arthur also make the side.

© IMAGO/James Marsh/Shutterstock

Leverkusen starting XI

Flekken – Andrich (c), Quansah, Tapsoba – Arthur, Maza, García, Grimaldo – Tillman, Poku – Schick

Leverkusen subs

Blaswich, Lomb, Badé, Echeverri, Tape, Ben Seghir, Tella, Kofane, Belocian

Newcastle starting XI

Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Guimarães (c), Joelinton – Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes

Newcastle subs

Thompson, Harrison, Schär, Wissa, Elanga, J. Murphy, Willock, A. Murphy, Ramsey, Miley

Positive omen?

Leverkusen's U19s beat Newcastle's ahead of tonight's headline match in the UEFA Youth League. The Leverkusen men's team will be hoping to do the same.

Old teammates reunited

At Brentford, Yoane Wissa and current Leverkusen custodian Mark Flekken shared a dressing room for two seasons: in 2023/24 and 2024/25. Now, ahead of facing his former teammate, Wissa had this to say: "It's really strange because I've never played in the Champions League before. It's going to be my first time. I'm looking forward to Leverkusen. I'll hopefully score against Mark Flekken, my old teammate."

© IMAGO

One to watch

Given that much of the pre-match attention has been on the return of Nick Woltemade to German soil, one player who has flown under the radar for the Magpies is none other than Yoane Wissa. The striker joined Newcastle in the summer from Brentford, after netting 19 Premier League goals in 35 appearances last term. However, an injury meant that he didn't make his debut until Saturday's victory over Burnley, coming off the bench in the second half. The 29-year-old is expected to be named in Newcastle's Matchday squad this evening...

© Stu Forster

Woltemade's thoughts on Leverkusen

"It will be a tough game. They've had a lot of changes in the summer, but the last two years with Xabi Alonso, they've been really good... When I played here with Bremen, I don't know how often I touched the ball, they played such good football. I'm excited for what's coming tomorrow, I know they want to play football. They're in a good position but of course we want to win this game."

© IMAGO/Weis/TEAM2

Nick Woltemade: "I'm really excited to come back"

Speaking on his first return to Germany since joining Newcastle, Woltemade had this to say ahead of the trip to Leverkusen: "It's really nice. I'm really excited to come back to Germany. I already feel at home in Newcastle too, but if I'm honest, to come to your home country again it's always feeling good. Very happy to be here, played some games with my old teams."

© George Wood

Howe praises Woltemade's adjustment

Speaking on the German international, who arrived at Newcastle from Stuttgart over the summer, Howe had this to say: "He has done brilliantly, just a great person, a good character. It is difficult to come in and do what he has done. He has fitted the team ethos...He has British humour, he came in with a really good way of approaching a transfer. He immediately came in, felt at home and made people laugh."

© Stu Forster

Eddie Howe on facing Leverkusen

"Leverkusen are an outstanding team, true to their identity, so this will be a tough game. Any team that wins at Man City demands your attention. I have watched them in the Bundesliga, they are a very strong team, good at playing flexible systems which makes them difficult to play against."

© Stu Forster

Leverkusen coach eyes momentum

Despite the shock defeat to Augsburg at the weekend, Leverkusen have enjoyed a recent upturn of form on the continent, which is something Hjulmand would like to see continue. The Dane highlighted this, saying: "After the two Champions League away wins, we have received a boost. [Against Newcastle], we want to take a really big step. A Champions League home game is something special and we're really looking forward to the match."

© IMAGO/Allstar Picture Library Ltd

Hjulmand gives injury update

"[Grimaldo] looked good today - he also did a good training session yesterday. We are positive with him. We almost have a full squad. In terms of injuries, Palacios is out, and the rest are in full team training, so that's a very good thing at this time of year."

© IMAGO/Rene Nijhuis/MB Media

Kasper Hjulmand on facing Newcastle

"They're a team with a lot of power, and that press forward. They're very physical and very good at set-pieces. They're a difficult opponent, but so are we when we play our best, and that's what we have to do tomorrow."

© Molly Darlington

Jarell Quansah's thoughts on Newcastle

"They're a really good team, really physical. They have quality players as well. We know it's going to be a super tough game - just like any game in the Champions League - but we know what we need to do. It's all about us. We need to win at home and it's important we try and get our fans involved."

© IMAGO/Cody Froggatt

2:03

Leverkusen lose

The Werskelf slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Augsburg on Saturday but remain in the Bundesliga's top four.

Mixed picture for Magpies

Goals from Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon took Newcastle to a 2-1 home win over Burnley on Saturday to make it four Premier League matches unbeaten, but they remain in the bottom half of their domestic table in 11th.

© IMAGO/Richard Lee/Shutterstock

Familiar faces

Malick Thiaw is a Germany international who came through the system at Schalke, while Fabian Schär was previously at Hoffenheim. Joelinton, too, was on the books of the Sinsheim-based outfit before moving to Newcastle, and Nick Woltemade has impressed in the north of England since signing from VfB Stuttgart in the summer.

© IMAGO/Dave Winter/Shutterstock

Head-to-head

These teams have met twice before, 23 years ago. Newcastle won both games 3-1 in the second group stage of the 2002/03 Champions League, although both teams were knocked out at that stage.

© Imago

Newcastle - the story so far

It has been a mixed bag for the Toon Army. They were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in their opening game before recording three successive wins. However, they lost 2-1 at Marseille last time out to leave them just outside the top eight with three games remaining.

© IMAGO/Dave Winter/Shutterstock

Bayer Leverkusen - the story so far

After a disappointing opening three games, that included a 7-2 loss to reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, Leverkusen have bounced back in the past two games. They have enjoyed back-to-back wins in those matches, beating Benfica 1-0 and Manchester City 2-0 both away from home. That has taken them to a total of eight points and a 17th-place spot in the league phase standings.

© IMAGO/Norbert SCHMIDT

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League encounter at home to Newcastle United on Matchday 6 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.

About the clubs

Bayer Leverkusen

BayArena