Patrik Schick gets Bayer Leverkusen up and running in UEFA Champions League against Benfica

Substitute Patrik Schick scored the only goal as Bayer Leverkusen beat José Mourinho's Benfica to record their first win in this season's UEFA Champions League.

Benfica 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Schick 65'

Leverkusen's goal led something of a charmed existence in the first half as the woodwork denied ex-Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg forward Dodi Lukébakio and Benfica captain Nicolás Otamendi.

The visitors' clearest opening fell with 10 minutes of the half remaining, when Ernest Poku collected Ibrahim Maza's defence-splitting pass before sending a hurried effort wide of the target.

Bayer were almost made to pay on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Mark Flekken pulled off a brilliant stop to foil Lukébakio at point-blank range. Otamendi fared no better with a free header from a corner soon after.

Leverkusen were fortunate not to trail at the break at the Estádio da Luz. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Edward Cheung

Flekken was Leverkusen's safety net once more after restart as Vangelis Pavlidis failed to make more of another dangerous corner. The Greek then shot wide when well placed on the edge of the Bayer area.

Up against it for much of the contest, Leverkusen managed to land a sucker punch with 65 minutes gone. Schick's initial effort was saved, but a mistake by substitute Samuel Dahl allowed the Czechia striker a second bite of the cherry and he took full advantage to head home the opening goal.

Schick was involved again as Leverkusen had the ball in the net for the second time. Anatoliy Trubin could only parry from the Bayer No.14, who was penalised for being in an offside position after Loïc Badé had converted on the rebound.

An injury-time swing and a miss from Lukébakio summed up Benfica's night as Leverkusen breathed new life into their league-phase campaign after draws with Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven and defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain. Die Werkself return to Champions League action with a trip to Manchester City on 25 November.

Match stats

• Leverkusen's record in 12 competitive fixtures under Kasper Hjulmand reads: W7, D3, L2.
• Schick scored his fourth competitve goal of the season, but only second in 29 Champions League appearances.
• Grimaldo is Leverkusen’s biggest goal threat in 2025/26, with seven goals and four assists in 14 competitive games.
• Leverkusen beat Benfica 3-1 at home and drew 0-0 away in the 2014/15 Champions League group stage.
• Die Werkself’s overall record against teams from Portugal reads: P21, W10, D4, L7.
• Benfica have now lost 13 of 18 Champions League meetings with German clubs (W2, D3).

Teams

Benfica: Trubin - Aursnes, Araújo, Otamendi (c), Dahl (Schjelderup 69') - Rios, Barrenechea - Lukébakio, Barreiro (Dedić 69'), Sudakov (Prestianni 69') - Pavlidis
Unused subs: Soares, Obrador, Silva, Ivanović, Araújo, Wynder, Veloso, Rego, Prioste
Out: Bah (knee), Bruma (Achilles), M. Silva (knee)
Coach: José Mourinho

Leverkusen: Flekken - Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Maza, García, Grimaldo (c) - Echeverri (Tillman 57'), Poku (Ben Seghir 88') - Kofane (Schick 57')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Lomb, Mensah, Culbreath, Belocian, Pohl
Out: Andrich (suspended), Fernández (knee), Hofmann (ineligible), Palacios (groin), Sarco (ineligible), Tape (thigh), Tella (knee), Terrier (ineligible), Vázquez (muscular)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

As it happened!

0 - 1

(0 - 0)

Benfica

FINAL

Leverkusen

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

Full-time: Benfica 0-1 Leverkusen

It wasn't pretty, but somehow Leverkusen are leaving Portugal with all three points thanks to that goal from Schick. The German side were second best for much of the game, only getting by thanks to a mix of good defending and poor finishing from Benfica. Lukébakio and Pavlidis in particular, will be disappointed that they couldn't take any of their chances.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Edward Cheung

Full-time

90'

+ 6

That was the chance!

A cross from the left is met by Lukébakio on the volley, but again he can only find the gloves of Flekken with his effort. That might be that.

90'

+ 2

Grimaldo misses the target

Maza does superbly to win a free-kick on the edge of the box that Grimaldo takes. However, the Spaniard's low shot goes wide.

90'

+ 1

Yellow card

Richard Ríos

90'

Added time

Six minutes remain for Leverkusen to hold on.

88'

Substitution

Eliesse Ben Seghir

Ernest Poku

86'

Another Lukébakio chance

After Schjelderup has a shot blocked, Benfica recycle the ball. A good cross from the left then bounces through to Lukébakio in the box, but he gets his half-volley all wrong from just in front of the goal. That was another good chance.

84'

A red card amongst the staff

In the midst of that break for treatment, a member of the Benfica staff was sent off for his protests.

84'

Schick receiving treatment

There is a short break in play as Schick receives treatment after a clash of heads.

Can Leverkusen hang on?

Only 10 minutes left to play. Do Leverkusen have it in them to keep Benfica at bay and to grind out a valuable three points?

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Edward Cheung

79'

Yellow card

Malik Tillman

78'

Yellow card

Nicolás Otamendi

77'

The ball is in the net

It won't count, though. Badé wins the ball and charges forward to the edge of the box before playing in Schick. His shot is saved before Badé fires home the rebound, but Schick was quite clearly offside in the build-up. The Leverkusen duo only half-heartedly finished off the attack in the end as they waited for the flag to be raised.

76'

Benfica pushing

The hosts are getting players forward in numbers looking for the equaliser.

71'

Otamendi heads wide

The Argentine gets up highest to meet a corner, but can only direct his header wide from a tough angle.

69'

Substitution

Gianluca Prestianni

Georgiy Sudakov

69'

Substitution

Amar Dedić

Leandro Barreiro

69'

Substitution

Andreas Schjelderup

Samuel Dahl

Schick gives Bayer the lead

Out of nowhere, the German side leads! Grimaldo slots Schick through on goal with a lovely pass, but the Czech striker has his initial effort well saved by Trubin. Dahl then makes a horrible error and heads the ball back to Schick in the box, and this time the striker does find the net using his head.

© PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA

65'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

0:1

A big miss

Benfica continue to create the better chances, and should this game finish 0-0, then Pavlidis will be kicking himself after missing that big chance earlier.

© IMAGO/Joaquim Ferreira

62'

Yellow card

Dodi Lukébakio

61'

Aursnes fires over

The Benfica right-back shoots from range and misses the target.

57'

Tillman makes his return

After around three weeks out with injury, Tillman is back on the pitch for Leverkusen. Can he make the difference? Schick also enters the fray.

57'

Substitution

Malik Tillman

Claudio Echeverri

57'

Substitution

Patrik Schick

Christian Kofane

55'

Tapsoba to miss Manchester City

That is Tapsoba's third yellow card, meaning that he will miss Leverkusen's trip to Manchester City next time out.

55'

Yellow card

Edmond Tapsoba

51'

Another chance

Lukébakio feeds Pavlidis on the edge of the box. The striker turns and shoots, but he misses the target.

47'

A huge chance

Pavlidis should open the scoring. A Benfica corner is sent back into the box after being cleared, with the ball bobbling through to Pavlidis on the penalty spot. However, instead of shooting, he attempts to round Flekken, and the goalkeeper is able to gather the ball.

46'

Back underway

Benfica get the second half started.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Benfica 0-0 Leverkusen

Leverkusen can count themselves lucky to be level at the break. The German side have had a couple of moments on the break, but for the most part, it has been Benfica dictating this game. The hosts have even hit the crossbar twice and had two more great chances to take the lead just before the break.

© Carlos Rodrigues

Half-time

45'

Added time

Just the one minute left to play.

44'

Another chance

After a corner, Otamendi finds space in the box to shoot, but his effort is easy for Flekken.

43'

Benfica should be in front

Sudakov sets Benfica underway with a magical turn in midfield before setting Lukébakio loose. The Belgian then tries to cut inside and shoot, but Flekken makes himself big to make the stop. Aursnes then feeds the rebound to Pavlidis, but his shot is superbly blocked before he can turn the ball home.

41'

Yellow card

Ibrahim Maza

38'

Almost

Leverkusen counter through Kofane and Echeverri and make it to the Benfica box. Kofane then lays the ball back to Echeverri, who looks for Tapsoba at the far post in space, but the pass is wayward and the chance disappears. A better pass there, and Tapsoba would have had a lot of space to get his shot away.

35'

A big chance

Maza is found in the centre, and he then has the chance to set Poku loose through the centre, but the youngster hurries his shot and hooks his effort wide from a very promising position.

33'

The bar again!

Otamendi gets up highest from Sudakov's corner and wins the header, only to see his effort bounce clear off the crossbar.

31'

Close

Barreiro is found in the box with a good cross, but he can't quite hit the target from a good position.

26'

Lukébakio misses the target

Lukébakio then has another go from range, but he can't hit the target.

26'

Good opening

Ríos does brilliantly to open up the game and to start the attack. He then receives a chipped ball in the centre that he cushions into the path of Barreiro. His initial shot is blocked before Lukébakio hammers the rebound goalwards, but his effort is straight at Flekken. That was good from Benfica.

22'

A wasted opportunity

Lukébakio takes the ball down well on the right, but his cross from a good position rolls into the arms of Flekken.

20'

Almost

Echeverri wins a free-kick that Grimaldo sends into the box. Lots of players are close to making contact, although in the end, the ball bounces through to Trubin.

An entertaining start

Both sides have started well, but Benfica look the more likely to open the scoring at the moment. They've created a couple of good moments early on.

© Carlos Rodrigues

13'

Ríos shoots

The Benfica midfielder has a go from the edge of the box, but his shot is saved by Flekken.

11'

Off the bar

Chances at both ends as first Poku does brilliantly to create a chance for himself, but then fails to use it. Then at the other end, Lukébakio gets on the end of a long ball with his pace and dinks an effort against the crossbar.

9'

Benfica have started well

The hosts have had large periods of possession and continue to make it difficult for Leverkusen to play out from the back.

4'

Good play

Leverkusen take the first shot of the game through Maza after the teenager started the counter with a good dummy on the edge of his own box. His shot goes comfortably wide, but it is a good sign for the visitors.

2'

Benfica pressing high

The hosts seem intent on causing Leverkusen problems early on with some very aggressive pressing.

1'

We're underway

Leverkusen get the game started.

Kick-off!

Players on the pitch

Both sets of players are on the pitch, and the famous Champions League anthem is playing. Not long until we get underway now.

Grimaldo warming up

The former Benfica player received a warm reception from both sets of fans whilst warming up.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Edward Cheung

Teams warming up

Just under 30 minutes until kick-off now, and the players are on the pitch going through their pre-match routines.

© FILIPE AMORIM

A special night for Grimaldo

The Spaniard spent seven years at Benfica before moving to Leverkusen in 2023, and now he is back at his former club as Leverkusen's captain.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

More on those teams

Amidst Leverkusen's current midfield injury crisis, Hjulmand has opted for Maza (left of centre) as García's partner in one of three changes to the side that was beaten by Bayern. Elsewhere, Kofane returns to the starting XI instead of Schick, and Grimaldo returns from injury to captain the side. Mourinho only makes one change to the Benfica side that won comfortably at the weekend as Barreiro replaces Prestianni.

© IMAGO/Joaquim Ferreira

Benfica starting XI

Trubin - Aursnes, Araújo, Otamendi (c), Dahl - Rios, Barrenechea - Lukébakio, Barreiro, Sudakov - Pavlidis

Benfica subs

Soares, Obrador, Silva, Ivanović, Dedić, Schjelderup, Prestianni, Araújo, Wynder, Veloso, Rego, Prioste

Leverkusen starting XI

Flekken - Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Maza, García, Grimaldo (c) - Echeverri, Poku - Kofane

Leverkusen subs

Blaswich, Lomb, Tillman, Schick, Ben Seghir, Mensah, Culbreath, Belocian, Pohl

Kasper Hjulmand on facing Benfica

"It's a very important game for both teams in this competition. Both teams will be very motivated. We are focusing solely on our own performance, we want to be proactive, courageous and determined, and play our own game. We're ready for a big match, a big fight to get three important points."

© IMAGO/Michael Weber IMAGEPOWER

Alejandro Grimaldo on facing Benfica

"We are prepared for the opponents and the atmosphere in the stadium. We enjoy big games like this - I want to win here tomorrow with the lads!"

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Jose Mourinho on facing Bayer Leverkusen

"It's a difficult team, a team that had a complicated start to the season, then changed coaches, then this coach also took some time to find his feet, and they found each other."

© IMAGO/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire/IMAGO/Icon Sportswire

Hostile atmosphere expected

With his side sat in second-last place after three matchdays with zero points, Benfica coach José Mourinho has tried to rally support for his team, announcing: “We have to give everything. It’s still open, and we have this opportunity if we give our all. In the stadium, with 60,000 fans, it has to be on fire on Wednesday.” As Leverkusen continue to search for their first win, they must be wary of an incredibly lively atmosphere inside the Estádio da Luz.

Recent victors against German opposition

The last time Benfica faced a German side in a competitive fixture was in the summer, when they downed Bayern Munich 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup. Norwegian forward Andreas Schjelderup was the hero that day and may be one for Hjulmand's Leverkusen team to keep an eye on, as he also claimed two goal involvements in Benfica's UCL third round qualifier against French outfit Nice to secure their spot in this season's competition.

© Kevin C. Cox

Familiar faces

Leandro Barreiro, formerly of Mainz, and ex-Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg winger Dodi Lukébakio are part of the Benfica squad for this encounter. However, Bruma, who was previously on the books of Leipzig, misses out through injury.

© Stuart Franklin/Pool/Getty Images

Reunion

Alejandro Grimaldo spent seven years with Benfica before making the switch to Leverkusen in 2023. He was rested against Bayern at the weekend, but is expected to play from the start here.

© CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images

Early Leverkusen team news

Kasper Hjulmand will have to make do without several midfielders for this one. Captain Robert Andrich is suspended following his red card against PSG last time out in this competition, while Ezequiel Fernández and Ezequiel Palacios are also meeting. Nathan Tella, Axel Tape and Lucas Vázquez join them on the sidelines.

© IMAGO/Laci Perenyi

2:03

Watch: Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen - highlights

The Werkself's last Bundesliga match ended in a loss at Bayern Munich, who have won all 15 of their games in all competitions this season - a European top-five league record.

Goals (almost) guaranteed

None of Leverkusen’s last 26 UEFA competition matches have finished goalless.

© PAU BARRENA

Werkself due a win?

Leverkusen have lost only one of their four away games against Portuguese sides in the UEFA Champions League (W1 D2). That one victory came back in October 1997, when they triumphed 2-0 over Sporting.

© INA FASSBENDER

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League encounter with Benfica on Matchday 4 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.

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