Bayer Leverkusen's winning pre-season run ended by Nottingham Forest

Bayer Leverkusen’s unblemished pre-season record this summer was brought to an end by Nottingham Forest, who struck in second-half stoppage time to earn a 2-1 win at the City Ground on Wednesday.

Two former Bundesliga players combined for the winner as ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man Arnaud Kalimuendo converted a cross from Luca Netz - formerly of Borussia Mönchengladbach - with virtually the last kick of the contest.

Dan Ndoye had given Oliver Glasner’s Forest a fourth-minute lead when he volleyed home Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross, but Patrik Schick’s deft first-half finish appeared to have earned Leverkusen a draw until Kalimuendo’s late strike.

The goal ended Leverkusen’s run of five straight victories in pre-season, but Carles Martínez’s side can make amends when they take on Newcastle United this weekend.

Watch: Leverkusen's 2-1 Sevilla - highlights

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Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Sevilla

As it happened!

Full time: Nottm Forest 2-1 Leverkusen

That Kalimuendo goal was virtually the last kick of the game. Leverkusen's five-game winning streak comes to an end - but they have an opportunity to make amends when they travel north to St James' Park to face Newcastle United on Saturday.

© David Rogers

90'

+ 1

Forest strike late!

...or not as the case maybe. The hosts appear to have won it at the last, with Kalimuendo getting on the end of Netz's whipped free-kick into the area.

90'

Arnaud Kalimuendo

GOAL!

2:1

85'

Will it end all square?

Both teams are looking a little leggy now as we approach the final five minutes. Happy to settle for a draw, maybe?

81'

Not long left

Into the final 10 minutes.

79'

Double substitution

Two more changes for the visitors as Hawighorst and Boniface replace Belocian and Vázquez.

74'

Defending well

The hosts are enjoying the majority of the ball, but Leverkusen are proving very difficult to break down.

72'

Hydration break

Into the final quarter of the game. Still plenty of time for a winner...

69'

Here are those changes

Poku, Fernandez, Maza, Tillman and Schick depart. Arthur, Doganay, García, Hofmann and Kofane enter the fray.

65'

Changes incoming

Leverkusen are about to make another five substitutions...

62'

Smart save!

Former Eintracht Frankfurt player Kalimuendo wins Forest a corner, which McAtee swings towards the near post. Domínguez gets on the end of it and forces a fine save out of Blaswich, who tips the ball over the bar.

57'

Midfield battle continues

Both teams are struggling to make inroads in the final third. Schick took his goal brilliantly before the break, but the striker hasn't seen a great deal of the ball since the restart.

53'

Even contest

The second period hasn't been as open as the first so far. The majority of action is taking place in the middle of the park at the moment.

50'

All change for Forest

The home side have made a whole raft of substitutions too. Both sides are trying to find their rhythm again at the start of the second half.

46'

Back under way!

Three changes for Leverkusen: Badé, Gutiérrez and Terrier have been replaced by Tapsoba, Oermann and Moreira.

Half-time: Nottm Forest 1-1 Leverkusen

All square at the interval. It's been an open game, and Leverkusen might feel disappointed not to be 2-1 up after that Schick opportunity shortly before the equaliser. The Czech striker made amends shortly afterwards, though.

© David Rogers

41'

Over from Sangaré

Forest almost get their noses back in front, though, as a loose ball ricochets into the path of Sangaré, who blazes over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

37'

Confidence boosted

That goal is exactly what Leverkusen needed in this game. The visitors are looking far more confident all of a sudden - can they complete the turnaround before the break?

Leverkusen level!

If at first you don't succeed... Forest fail to learn their lesson, leaving Schick unmarked inside the penalty area to collect a pass and dink the ball over the onrushing Sels to restore parity.

© Shaun Botterill

33'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

1:1

29'

Golden opportunity!

A wonderful opportunity for Leverkusen to level as Schick escapes the attentions of Murillo but heads wide from close range.

25'

Water break

Think the players might enjoy this quick breather, given the temperatures.

23'

Gibbs-White lively

A Forest counter-attack ends in Gibbs-White flashing a low ball across the face of goal - but none of his team-mates are there to turn it home. Sangaré had won the ball for the home side in the Leverkusen half.

19'

Chances at a premium

It's been a fairly open contest so far, but clear-cut opportunities have been hard to come by - apart from the early Forest goal.

15'

Good block

Milenković gets on the end of Ndoye's delivery, but Badé does well to fling himself in the way of the effort.

11'

Stifling conditions

It's 32C in the East Midlands this evening - tough conditions for your sixth pre-season friendly of the summer.

8'

Can Leverkusen respond?

The visitors have won all their games in pre-season so far, but that unblemished record is under threat now. Leverkusen are showing one or two signs of settling, though.

Forest strike first

Not a great start for Die Werkself as the home side take an early lead through Ndoye, who volleys home Gibbs-White's cross from close range.

© Shaun Botterill

4'

Dan Ndoye

GOAL!

1:0

2'

Good atmosphere

Both sets of fans are making plenty of noise as the two teams look to settle early on. Probably still excited from that eclipse...

KICK-OFF!

Off we go at the City Ground.

More on that Leverkusen team

Die Werkself make seven changes to the side that started against Sevilla at the weekend. Summer signing Miguel Gutiérrez is one of the players brought in, while Malik Tillman and Patrik Schick both feature in a strong Leverkusen XI.

© IMAGO/Jez Tighe

Perfect conditions

Lovely weather in Nottingham for Leverkusen's latest friendly of the summer.

© IMAGO

Leverkusen touch down in England

The Werkself squad have arrived in England ahead of their upcoming friendlies against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. First up for Carles Martínez's troops is a trip to the City Ground.

Leverkusen confirm Medina signing

On Monday, Bayer Leverkusen announced the signing of Argentina international defender Facundo Medina from Marseille on a five-year contract through to 30 June 2031. It remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old will be available for selection for the friendly fixture against Forest.

© IMAGO/Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

New kit just dropped

Ahead of Die Werkself's visit to The City Ground, the club unveiled their new third kit for the upcoming season. The shirt sports a white base colour with striking red and black accents, complete with subtly a integrated pattern inspired by the Leverkusen city coat of arms. For the badge, the club has opted for a redesign of that which featured on kits from the 1990s, giving the shirt a retro feel.

Early team news

Whilst Robert Andrich and Montrell Culbreath will not travel with the rest of the squad to England after picking up injuries in the 2-1 friendly victory over Sevilla last time out, and both Kennet Eichhorn (long-term illness) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (hamstring) remain unavailable for selection, there was some good news for Leverkusen fans on the personnel front. Axel Tape, who had been suffering from illness, and Nathan Tella (pictured), who missed the Sevilla game with a muscle complaint, returned to take part in the final training session before the team’s departure for Nottingham.

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Madeleine Fantini

Welcome back!

Defender Jarell Quansah and midfielder Exequiel Palacios will hope to feature at the City Ground after returning from their respective post-World Cup breaks on Tuesday.

Familiar face

Forest are coached by former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, who famously guided the Eagles to UEFA Europa League glory in 2022. He left Crystal Palace after winning the UEFA Conference League last season but was not out of a job for long, signing a three-year contract at the City Ground on 6 July.

© Simon Hofmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images

Schick shines

Czech striker Patrik Schick scored both Leverkusen's goals against Spanish La Liga outfit Sevilla at the weekend. The 30-year-old, who announced his retirement from international football following Czechia's group-stage elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026, will hope to fire Die Werkself back into the UEFA Champions League this season.

© IMAGO/Mijo Lubec

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's pre-season friendly with Nottingham Forest as we approach the start of the 2026/27 season.

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