Patrik Schick was on target once again, Florian Wirtz scored a brace and Alejandro Grimaldo netted a trademark free-kick as Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Salzburg on UEFA Champions League Matchday 5.

Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Red Bull Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (pen. 8'), 2-0 Grimaldo 12', 3-0 Wirtz 30' (assist: Grimaldo) 30', 4-0 Schick 61' (assist: Frimpong), 5-0 García 72' (assist: Wirtz) 

Leverkusen came close to a dream start when Wirtz skillfully carved out space and unleashed a close-range shot, but it wasn’t to be on that occasion. The hosts kept up the pressure and were rewarded in the sixth minute when Schick’s shot struck Samson Baidoo’s hand, earning a penalty. Wirtz stepped up and coolly fired his spot-kick into the top corner for an early lead. The midfield maestro was at the heart of things again shortly after, winning a free-kick just outside the box that Grimaldo bent beautifully into the opposite top corner. Grimaldo had chances to add more, forcing a strong save from Alexander Schlager with a powerful strike before sending a first-time effort narrowly wide from Jeremie Frimpong’s pass. Leverkusen’s dominance was unrelenting, and Wirtz eventually added a third, weaving through a crowded Salzburg penalty area with dazzling footwork before slotting the ball into the far corner to cap off an excellent first-half display.

Despite Salzburg making three changes at half-time, Leverkusen picked up where they left off, dominating possession deep in the opposition’s half. Their first chance of the second-half came from a looping header by Schick that drifted just wide of the post. With a comfortable three-goal cushion, Xabi Alonso’s side naturally eased off slightly, but it did little to alter the flow of the game as Salzburg continued to struggle against Leverkusen’s relentless pressing. The hosts extended their lead just after the hour mark when Frimpong delivered a pin-point low cross to Schick, whose first-time finish found the back of the net to make it 4-0. Moments later, Wirtz came close to completing his hat-trick, but his close-range effort rolled agonisingly wide of the far post. Wirtz was involved in Leverkusen’s fifth, though, cutting a pass back to the on-rushing Aleix García to finish off a clinical counter-attack almost straight after the Spaniard’s introduction. Bayer move onto 10 points from five games, with three more to play in the league phase.

Match stats

• Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 10 European home games (W6, D4), dating back to a 3-2 loss to Monaco in their 2022/23 UEFA Europa League last-16 play-off first leg.
• Alonso won two Champions League titles as a player, lifting the trophy in 2004/05 with Liverpool and 2013/14 with Real Madrid.
• Schick scored five goals and was Leverkusen's joint-top scorer with Boniface in last season's Europa League on route to the final.
• Bayer have won four of six previous UEFA competition games against teams from Austria, drawing one and losing the other.
• Salzburg, meanwhile, have lost four of six Champions League meetings with German opposition (W1, D1).
• Blaswich won the 2022/23 DFB Cup and 2023/24 Supercup with Leipzig.

Teams

Leverkusen: Kovář – Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapié (Arthur 68') – Frimpong (Tella 68'), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo – Palacios (García 68'), Schick (Stepanov 73'), Wirtz (Onyeka 76')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Lomb, Hawighorst, Onyeka
Out: Adli (broken leg), Belocian (foot), Boniface (thigh), Hofmann (muscular), Mukiele (thigh), Terrier (arm)
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Salzburg: Schlager – Dedić (c), Piątkowski, Baidoo, Terzić (Guindo 46') – Clark (Bidstrup 46') , Gourna-Douath (Bajčetić 46'), Daimbou (Capaldo 74') – Yeo, Konaté (Dorgeles 16'), Gloukh
Unused subs: Hamzic, Blank, Okoh, Mellberg, Kawamura, Ratkov, Daghim
Out: Blaswich (calf), Fernando (thigh), Kjaergaard (ankle), Morgalla (thigh)
Coach: Pepijn Lijnders

As it happened! 

5 - 0

(3 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Salzburg

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 5 League phase, Matchday 5 BayArena

Full-time: Leverkusen 5-0 Salzburg

Leverkusen's dominance didn't cease after the first half. A half-time triple substitution by the visitors couldn't find a response, nor could they prevent another two goals to be scored by the hosts. Schick and García got their first ever Champions League goals, and youngsters Onyeka and Stepanov also got their first taste of European competition, coming on towards the end of the half. Never in doubt for Leverkusen.

© Lars Baron

90'

+ 1

Two additional minutes

There are to be two minutes added on at the end of this half for injuries and stoppages.

90'

Grimaldo shoots

Once again, the Spaniard tries an attempt from the edge of the box. He shot straight through the ball and it would've been dipping toward to the far corner, if not for the outstretched Schlager.

84'

Wide from Tella

Andrich crosses in towards Tella, who connects with a header at the far post but knocks it wide.

82'

Decent effort from Dedić

Salzburg get themselves up the pitch. The ball is worked to the captain Dedić, who, from the edge of the box, lets a powerful left-footed effort fly goalwards. A diving Kovář is forced to make a rare save, managing to catch the attempt.

More magic from Wirtz

The magician ran the show for Leverkusen once again this evening, scoring twice and assisting once. He was subbed off after 76 minutes, replaced by the young Francis Onyeka.

© IMAGO/VITALII KLIUIEV

78'

Tella goes through

The winger gets in behind the Salzburg defence down the left channel. He gets a shot away with his left, which is blocked, before the ball drops back to him. His second effort, curled with his right, is wide of the mark.

76'

Young stars

Onyeka and Stepanov (both 17) come on to make their Champions League debuts, replacing Wirtz and Schick.

76'

Substitution

Francis Onyeka

Florian Wirtz

73'

Substitution

Nicolás Capaldo

Mamady Diambou

73'

Substitution

Artem Stepanov

Patrik Schick

72'

García makes it five!

Leverkusen counter-attack quickly. It's worked out to Wirtz on the right, who considers a cross before cutting it back to García on the edge of the box. His first time shot is close to Schlager, but is too powerful for the keeper to stop from close range. That's García's first Champions League goal.

72'

Aleix García

GOAL!

5:0

68'

Almost instant impact

Immediately upon coming onto the pitch, Tella is released in acres of space down the right. He works it into García inside the box, who unleashes a powerful shot, but Schlager punches it away.

68'

Triple change

The three senior outfield players on the bench come on for Leverkusen.

67'

Substitution

Nathan Tella

Jeremie Frimpong

67'

Substitution

Arthur

Piero Hincapié

67'

Substitution

Aleix García

Exequiel Palacios

66'

Grimaldo with the effort

Leverkusen keep pushing for another goal. The ball gets congested on the edge of the Salzburg area, before falling to Grimaldo, who shoots. Schlager saves and holds onto it, though.

65'

Yellow card

Robert Andrich

65'

Wirtz nearly gets his third

Palacios gets to the byline down the right channel. He cuts back into the box where Wirtz is waiting. He shoots first time, dragging his shot narrowly wide of the left post.

61'

Schick makes it four!

The striker finally gets his goal. Frimpong receives the ball out wide, whipping a deep cross into the box. Schick arrives to just prod it home from six yards out for his first ever Champions League goal. That's seven goals in his last six appearances now.

61'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

4:0

58'

Yeo receives first yellow

The winger has an opportunity to break, but Leverkusen snuff out the danger. He trips Robert Andrich, but it's most likely his reaction towards the referee that earns him the first yellow card of the match.

58'

Yellow card

Moussa Yeo

57'

Corner for Salzburg

The visitors take it quickly, catching Leverkusen off guard. Dedić picks it up, dribbling into the box. He tries a shot with his left but his attempt is wild and flies well wide.

52'

Schick's glancing header

Frimpong whips a cross in from the right towards the head of Schick. The forward gets up well and glances a header towards the back post, which travels narrowly wide of the mark.

51'

Slower start to the half

Salzburg have enjoyed a bit more of the ball since half-time, and look tighter at the back on the whole. Leverkusen don't need to start quite as guns-blazing as they did in the first.

46'

Triple change

Salzburg make three changes at half time after a dismal first half performance.

46'

Substitution

Stefan Bajčetić

Lucas Gourna-Douath

46'

Substitution

Daouda Guindo

Aleksa Terzić

46'

Substitution

Mads Bidstrup

Bobby Clark

Half-time: Leverkusen 3-0 Salzburg

An utterly dominant display from the hosts here at the BayArena. Wirtz gave his side the lead after eight minutes, converting a penalty awarded for handball. Grimaldo doubled the advantage just four minutes later, with a pinpoint accurate free-kick. The two then combined for a third at the half hour mark, with Wirtz demonstrating his technical prowess. Salzburg will feel hard done by, having lost striker Konaté to injury after 13 minutes, but on the whole, they're fortunate it's not more than three...

© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Meuter

45'

+ 4

Grimaldo takes...

...but it flies straight into the wall.

45'

+ 3

Free-kick

The cleared corner falls to Frimpong, who shoots first time. It strikes the hand of Yeo and the referee gives a free-kick in a similar, but opposite, position to where Grimaldo scored his sides' second.

45'

+ 3

Late corner

Andrich pounces on a loose ball high up and drives to the byline, but his cross is blocked behind. Wirtz takes, swinging it in from the left but Schlager punches clear.

45'

+ 1

Four additional minutes

There are to be four minutes added on at the end of this half.

45'

Palacios goes through

The Argentine charges down the right flank and is through on goal. He lets a shot fly from a tight angle, but Schlager is equal to it, parrying it clear.

43'

First real effort from Salzburg

Left-back Terzić gets high up the pitch, receiving the ball just outside the box. He whips a cross in, which is headed only as far as Yeo. He gets an early shot away, beating Hincapie but Kovář makes a comfortable save.

40'

Chance goes begging

Wirtz chips a little ball into the box for Andrich to get onto. The German reaches it and fires a cross in front of the face of the goal, looking for Schick at the back post. The Czech forward stretches but cannot quite reach it.

39'

Tapsoba pressing

The centre-back gets high up the pitch and presses in tandem with Frimpong to win the ball back for Leverkusen. They're awarded a throw-in for their efforts.

36'

Frimpong shoots

Palacios works it out to Frimpong, who controls the ball with his right inside the box. He moves the ball onto his left foot and releases a powerful low shot but it's too close to Schlager, who saves with his feet.

Wirtz's first

The young German celebrates opening the scoring from the spot after just eight minutes, his first goal of the evening.

© Lars Baron

33'

No let up from Leverkusen

The hosts have a free-kick from the left touchline. Grimaldo takes it, in towards Schick, but the Czech forward's header is well wide.

30'

Wirtz at the double!

He started the move and my how he finished it! Wirtz plays it out wide to Grimaldo then gets it back from the Spaniard before dribbling into the box, showcasing excellent close control. He works it onto his right foot and just strokes it home past Schlager into the bottom right from close range.

30'

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

3:0

29'

Grimaldo misses

Frimpong gets to the byline and squares it into the box for Grimaldo , whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. Leverkusen can't make anything of it, though.

27'

Xhaka this time

The corner comes to the edge of the box, where Xhaka attempts a trademark long-ranged left-footed effort, but Schlager is there again to make the save. Leverkusen are really turning the screw here...

26'

Grimaldo shoots

Palacios plays Frimpong through into the Salzburg box, but he can't get his shot away. He lays it off to Schick, who also can't shoot and works it out to Grimaldo, whose left-footed effort is tipped behind for a corner by Schlager.

24'

Looking for Schick

Palacios pops up with the ball on the edge of the box, attempting a chipped pass in behind to Schick, but Piątkowski is there to head it back to his keeper.

23'

Grimaldo attempts the switch

Leverkusen try to counter-attack. The wing-back sees an option to switch it to Frimpong, who is in space, but the Spaniard slices his pass and Salzburg recover the ball.

22'

First corner for Salzburg

Taken from the left in towards Dorgeles, Leverkusen manage to get it clear.

18'

Dorgeles breaks

Leverkusen have a free-kick down the right, inside the Salzburg half. They try to take it short but get it all wrong and Salzburg break. Dorgeles the only runner beats Hincapie at the half-way line and drives towards the Leverkusen goal, but the hosts get back well to recover and make the tackle, with the substitute devoid of options from his teammates.

17'

Frimpong crosses

Wirtz switches a ball out to Frimpong. He drives down the right channel before whipping a ball in towards Schick, but a Salzburg head meets the cross first.

16'

Konaté limps off

Salzburg make the change, Konaté's injury appearing to be quite serious as he is helped off by the Austrian side's physios.

16'

Substitution

Dorgeles Nene

Karim Konaté

13'

Konaté down

Salzburg now have injury concerns to add to their woes, as forward Konaté goes down and stays down, seemingly in real discomfort.

12'

Grimaldo doubles the lead!

Grimaldo steps up to take the free-kick from the edge of the box. He curls one up and over the wall into the top left corner in his trademark fashion. What a start from Leverkusen here!

12'

Alejandro Grimaldo

GOAL!

2:0

10'

Leverkusen looking sharp

After Salzburg gave the ball away at the back, Schick was nearly there to pounce and double the hosts' lead, but Schlager got there first. This time it's Wirtz again, who twists and turns on the edge of the box, before being brought down for a foul.

8'

Wirtz converts!

The winger steps up to take it and dispatches the penalty emphatically into the top right corner.

8'

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

1:0

Penalty

7'

The penalty stands

The referee is advised to go to the monitor to review the incident by the VAR, with the ball striking Baidoo on the body first. But the referee sticks with his original decision.

6'

Penalty!

A long ball over the top finds Wirtz. The winger cuts it back to Schick, who shoots first time, his shot striking the arm of Baidoo. The referee points to the spot...

5'

Second corner for Leverkusen

Wirtz wins a corner for the hosts. Grimaldo takes an in-swinger. The first effort is headed away, but only as far as Tah, whose shot is blocked and Salzburg get it clear.

2'

Wirtz lets fly

The young star cuts off the left and drives into the box. Working the ball onto his right, he whips a shot towards the bottom right but Schlager is down well to make the tip it round the post. Leverkusen can't make anything of the subsequent corner.

1'

And we're off!

Salzburg get the ball rolling here in the BayArena.

Successive victories?

Salzburg are aiming to win successive UEFA competition matches for the first time since the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage. Despite their underdog status, Leverkusen have reason to be concerned, as Salzburg have scored at least one goal in each of their last 10 European Cup matches against German teams.

More on those teams:

Salzburg makes three changes from their most recent domestic fixture, a 2-1 home defeat to LASK. Bidstrup and Dorgeles drop to the bench, with Gloch absent. In their places come Clark, Daimbou and Gloukh, with Lijnders' side switching from a back five to a back four. Leverkusen largely line up as expected, the two surprises coming in the form of Kovář and Frimpong. Kovář replaces Hrádecký, following on from his stellar performance last time out against Brest. Frimpong retains his position in the starting XI, despite injury concerns, after he was removed at half-time over the weekend for Leverkusen having picked up a knock.

Leverkusen subs:

Hrádecký, Lomb, Arthur, Tella, García, Hawighorst, Stepanov, Onyeka

Leverkusen starting XI:

Kovář – Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapie – Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo – Palacios, Schick, Wirtz

Salzburg subs:

Hamzic, Blank, Okoh, Guindo, Mellberg, Capaldo, Bajčetić, Kawamura, Bidstrup, Ratkov, Daghim, Dorgeles

Salzburg starting XI:

Schlager – Dedić (c), Piątkowski, Baidoo, Terzić – Clark, Gourna-Douath, Daimbou – Yeo, Konaté, Gloukh

The stage is set

The BayArena is ready for tonight's clash.

© IMAGO/Marco Bader

The road ahead for Leverkusen

After tonight's match Leverkusen face Inter Milan (h), Atletico Madrid (a) and Sparta Prague (h) in their final three Champions League games

Bundesliga in his blood?

New Salzburg coach Pepijn Lijnders spent his previous nine years as Jürgen Klopp's assistant at Liverpool. Learning from the iconic former Borussia Dortmund coach, the Dutchman is just as big on pressing and intensity.

© Clive Brunskill

Nothing less than three points for Xhaka

"With all due respect, we have to win at home against Salzburg. With our quality, we have to win," the midfielder said.

1:51

Watch: The best link-ups between Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface

Just behind Wirtz on goal contributions on nine, and ahead of him on goals on eight, is Boniface, who has been sublime in linking up with his Bayer colleague.

Ones to watch

Florian Wirtz is Leverkusen's top scorer in the Champions League with three goals, and he's their most productive overall (seven goals, three assists). For Salzburg, midfielder Oscar Gloukh has two assists in Europe, and eight goal contributions on the Austrian Bundesliga.

© Jasmin Walter

Opportunity for youth players

With six key players currently sidelined for Leverkusen, Alonso has been forced to select youth players for his squad to face Salzburg. Midfielder Francis Onyeka and striker Artem Stepanov, both 17, were in the squad that faced Heidenheim at the weekend, while 16-year-old centre-back Ben Hawighorst, captain of the German U17 national team, has earned his first call-up.

1:52

Watch: The best of Janis Blaswich

Here's who Leverkusen will have to beat in the Salzburg net tonight...

Familiar face in goal

Leverkusen's forwards will be coming up against a familiar task in Janis Blaswich in the Salzburg net. The German was Peter Gulacsi's back up until recently and featured heavily when the Hungarian was injured last term. Blaswich has faced Leverkusen three times and lost each match.

© IMAGO/motivio

Moussa Yeo on Leverkusen

"We knew that the opponents would not get easier in the Champions League. It was important we finally got points at Feyenoord. We definitely won't start as favourites against the German champions, but that makes us even more determined to surprise them. We can only achieve that if we put in an ideal performance and play very disciplined football."

Pep Lijnders on Leverkusen

"We are facing a team on Tuesday that are very mature and have unbelievable quality. They press very high and will want to put us under pressure right from the start. We have to find solutions. I hope that we will play like we did at Feyenoord and show the same virtues, determination and cleverness we had in our last Champions League performance."

© INA FASSBENDER

Arthur ready to make his Champions League debut

"I have the support of the team and the coach and I feel ready. I feel really good on and off the pitch here. I feel physically better than I did before my injury. I've worked a lot and I trust my body. I'm playing with two good friends in the same position [Frimpong and Tella]. We can learn from each other every day. The atmosphere is great. We are a big family here."

© INA FASSBENDER

Alonso on Salzburg

"They're a top-quality opponent with young players who show great spirit on the pitch, are brave and also have great dynamism and good technique and are able to produce a very intense performance. The style of play is also greatly influenced by RB Leipzig but also from Liverpool through the coach Pepijn Lijnders."

Alonso - We need the fans

Ahead of their Champions League tie with Salzburg, coach Xabi Alonso spoke about the importance of the fans, telling the official club website: "We need the energy from the fans. In difficult moments, they can influence us and push us. We need this support from the stands to be able to enjoy Champions League nights together."

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl

First meeting

This will be the first time that these two sides have met competitively. In Salzburg's eight previous European meetings with German opposition, they have won three, drawn two and lost three. The opponents for these eight games were Leipzig (two wins from two), Dortmund (one win and one draw) and Bayern (three losses and one draw).

Back to winning ways

Without a win in their last two European games, Leverkusen will look to get back on track against RB Salzburg. Xabi Alonso's men haven't been their usual selves domestically, drawing three of their last five, and will see Tuesday's clash with Salzburg as an opportunity to right the ship.

2:03

Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 5-2 Heidenheim - highlights

Leverkusen came from behind to record an emphatic victory over Heidenheim. The 2023/24 Bundesliga champions ended a three-game winless streak in all competitions and scored the most goals they've managed in any single match this season.

Leverkusen - the story so far

Leverkusen's unbeaten start ended in an unceremonious 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Matchday 4. Prior to that, Xabi Alonso's charges had picked up wins over Feyenoord and AC Milan whilst drawing with surprise package Brest.

© IMAGO/Paul Currie/Shutterstock

Salzburg - the story so far

After overcoming Dynamo Kyiv in the play-offs, Salzburg lost their first three league-phase fixtures against Sparta Prague, Brest and Dinamo Zagreb, before beating 10-man Feyenoord 3-1 away last time out.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's fifth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday.

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