Bayer Leverkusen fight back to draw with Copenhagen in UEFA Champions League

Alejandro Grimaldo was on target again as Bayer Leverkusen twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Copenhagen in their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League opener.

Copenhagen 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Larsson 9' (assist: Achouri), 1-1 Grimaldo 83', 2-1 Robert 87', 2-2 Hatzidiakos (o.g.) 90'+2

Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt on new head coach Kasper Hjulmand's Bundesliga debut last weekend, but were up against it early on in the Danish capital.

Jordan Larsson broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal inside nine minutes as Copenhagen took control of proceedings, with Leverkusen's attacking efforts limited to harmless long-range attempts from Grimaldo - scorer of two superb free-kicks against Frankfurt - and Malik Tillman.

Indeed, Die Werkself were fortunate not to be further behind at the break after Mohamed Elyounoussi struck the crossbar and Mark Flekken thwarted former Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko on the stroke of half-time.

Watch: Grimaldo's magic wand

Flekken was at it again after the restart, the Leverkusen stopper diving to deny Larsson a second goal of the night.

Hjulmand shuffled his pack with under an hour gone, but Copenhagen continued to carry the greater threat as Lukas Lerager tested Flekken and Elyounoussi shot wide at the end of a mazy run.

Eliesse Ben Seghir hit the woodwork in a rare moment of attacking promise for Leverkusen, though Copenhagen responded by very nearly doubling their lead through Elynounoussi, whose free-kick was brilliantly kept out by Flekken.

Dominik Kotarski took a leaf out of Flekken's book with a fine save to prevent Patrik Schick from finding the top corner. However, there was nothing he could to do to stop Grimaldo nestling in a trademark free-kick for 1-1.

Substitute Robert scored four minutes later to restore Copenhagen's lead, but Leverkusen found a way to level once more as Pantelis Hatzidiakos put Manchester City loanee Claudio Echeverri's cross through his own net in added time.

Match stats

• Leverkusen were the highest-placed German team in last season’s league phase. They progressed automatically to the round of 16 in sixth.
• Grimaldo has scored three free-kicks across his last two competitive games.
• Hjulmand won the 2011/12 Danish league title with Nordsjaelland.
• Schick scored his only Champions League goal in 27 appearances in the competition to date in last season’s league phase win over Red Bull Salzburg.
• Die Werkself beat Copenhagen home and away in the 2014/15 Champions League play-offs.
• Moukoko scored 17 goals in 76 Bundesliga appearances. He is the German top flight’s youngest ever scorer (16 years and 28 days).

Teams

Copenhagen: Kotarski – Huescas, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, López - Larsson (Zague 78'), Delaney (c) (Madsen 56'), Lerager, Achouri (Robert 78') - Moukoko (Claesson 68'), Elyounoussi
Unused subs: Rúnarsson, Buur, Garananga, Suzuki, Meling, Clem
Out: Cornelius (unknown), Mattsson (knee), Højer (unknown), Moalem (hip)
Coach: Jacob Neestrup

Leverkusen: Flekken – Quansah, Badé (Echeverri 67'), Tapsoba – Vázquez, Fernández (García 50'), Andrich (c), Grimaldo – Ben Seghir (Poku 67'), Tillman (Maza 50') – Schick
Unused subs: Blaswich, Lomb, Arthur, Tape, Kofane, Belocian
Out: Hofmann (ineligible), Palacios (adductor), Sarco (ineligible), Tella (knee), Terrier (ineligible)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

As it happened!

2 - 2

(1 - 0)

Copenhagen

FINAL

Leverkusen

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 Parken, Copenhagen

Full-time: Copenhagen 2-2 Leverkusen

What a finish to an enthralling encounter! Bayer 04 will be delighted they managed to haul themselves back twice in this game thanks to yet another Alex Grimaldo free kick and Pantelis Hatzidiakos's injury-time own goal. Mark Flekken will also take plenty of plaudits for an outstanding performance between the Werkself posts.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

90'

+ 2

B04 are level once more!

What an end to this game! Pantelis Hatzidiakos has just put through his own net from Echeverri's cross and drops to his knees as the pocket of Leverkusen fans roar in delight. Behind twice, on terms twice now for the Bundesliga side.

90'

+ 2

Hatzidiakos o.g.

GOAL!

2:2

89'

Yellow card

Edmond Tapsoba

88'

Substitution

Christian Kofane

Robert Andrich

87'

Hosts back in front

Heartbreak for the Werkself, who were on terms for only a short period. Copenhagen substitute Robert finishes off a tidy move by the home side and the Parken erupts with joy once more.

87'

Robert

GOAL!

2:1

83'

Grimaldo does it again!

What it is it about this man and free kicks! The king of the set-piece spanks a silky effort over the wall from around 25 metres out and is soon wheeling away in celebration as his effort thwacks the back of the net!

82'

Alejandro Grimaldo

GOAL!

1:1

78'

Substitution

Robert

Achouri

78'

Substitution

Zague

Larsson

74'

Flekken in top form

Back we go up the other end and this time it's Huesca who has a go at goals. Flekken is there once again.

72'

Echeverri effort

The Leverkusen sub tries with a shot from a tight angle on the right, but Kotarski gobbles that one up.

68'

Substitution

Claesson

Moukoko

67'

Substitution

Claudio Echeverri

Loïc Badé

67'

Substitution

Ernest Poku

Eliesse Ben Seghir

Impossible to predict

Leverkusen's league phase opener really could go either way at this point but coach Kasper Hjulmand is rallying his troops from the sideline in the hopes of inspiring a big response out on the pitch.

© IMAGO/Gonzales Photo/Dennis Jacobsen

65'

Almost Schick!

Great work by Quansah, who tees up Patrik Schick and the Czech's effort to the top corner is brilliantly saved by Kotarski.

63'

Lucas booked

The Leverkusen full-back sees yellow for a foul on Elyounoussi.

63'

Yellow card

Lucas Vázquez

63'

End-to-end

If they get a result here, the away side will be thankful to Mark Flekken, who makes his umpteenth stop to prevent Elynounoussi from scoring with a free kick.

62'

Bayer hit the post!

Ben Seghir cuts inside from the left before sending a right-footed shot from distance that cracks off the upright. Both sides have now struck the woodwork in this game.

61'

Hosts come again

This time it's Elyounoussi who races forward before driving a shot from distance narrowly wide of the upright.

Plenty of time

Leverkusen still have 30 minutes plus stoppages to conjure something here, but they will need to begin to start showing a little more urgency.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

58'

Lerager foiled

Flekken is there once more, this time to keep out midfielder Lukas Lerager.

56'

Substitution

Madsen

Delaney

53'

Delaney booked

Thomas Delaney sees yellow for a foul on new man Maza. Welcome to the game, Ibrahim.

53'

Yellow card

Delaney

50'

Double swap

Coach Kasper Hjulmand tries something new with Aleix García and Ibrahim Maza coming into the mix for the away side.

50'

Substitution

Aleix García

Ezequiel Fernández

50'

Substitution

Ibrahim Maza

Malik Tillman

47'

Flekken again to the fore

The Bayer keeper is there once more in this game to deny Jordan Larsson's low drive at the start of the second half.

46'

Peeeep!

We're back underway in the second half.

Half-time: Copenhagen 1-0 Leverkusen

The Werkself have work to do in the second half with Copenhagen taking momentum, and a 1-0 lead into the break at the Parken Stadium.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

44'

Yellow card

Hatzidiakos

43'

Flekken to the rescue!

Mark Flekken keeps Leverkusen in the game as half-time approaches with an excellent reaction save to deny Moukoko.

41'

Hosts hit woodwork!

Copenhagen counter and Elyounoussi's cross from the right fizzes towards goal, loops over Flekken and lands on top of the crossbar and bounces out. That was a close call for Bayer 04.

36'

Tillman off target

The USMNT international takes possession following a corner and shoots from the edge of the penalty area. His effort bounces harmlessly wide.

33'

Yellow card

Lopez

32'

Lopez in danger

The Copenhagen man challenges Tapsoba and the referee reaches for a card. It's yellow this time.

28'

Badé to the rescue

Copenhagen counter swiftly and just when it appears they might be in for a real chance, Loïc Badé gets in to block Rodrigo Huescas's pass .

Stats not enough

The Bundesliga side boast 60 percent possession and have even carved out one more opportunity than the hosts, yet it's Copenhagen who continue to lead here by a single goal at the Parken.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

20'

Grimaldo has a go

The Spanish full-back tries one of his trademark finishes from a set-piece just outside the area but this time the Spaniard's effort from the dead ball goes over the crossbar.

16'

Bayer 04 resettling

Kasper Hjulmand's side have regained their composure now but chances have not yet been forthcoming for them. Perhaps a change in shape is called for here?

12'

Lions prowling

The opening goal has raised Copenhagen spirits considerably and the Lions are snapping at Leverkusen and hurrying their opponents into errors.

9'

Copenhagen hit the front

A super finish from Jordan Larsson - assisted by Elias Achouri - has put Copenhagen in front to the delight of the home supporters here. Leverkusen need to keep their heads after that, the Werkself had been playing well.

9'

Larsson

GOAL!

1:0

5'

Home side growing in confidence

The hosts come more into it now with Gabriel Pereira firing a long-range shot from the right that just misses the target.

3'

Visitors start strongly

It's been a solid opening from the 2024 Bundesliga champions, who are passing the ball around confidently at the moment.

1'

Away we go!

The ball is rolling at the Parken Stadium and Bayer Leverkusen's UEFA Champions League tilt for 2025/26 is underway!

Parken buzzing

The 38,000 capacity Parken Stadium will be full to capacity this evening and the ground is already filling quickly as the atmosphere builds ahead of kick-off. There's not long to go now!

Bundesliga omen?

Leverkusen's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich managed to become the only side to win in the Danish capital in Group A in Copenhagen's most recent outing in the UEFA Champions League back in 2023/24.

More on those teams

The hosts are captained by former BVB and Werder Bremen midfielder Thomas Delaney while another former member of the-Black and-Yellow crew, Youssoufa Moukoko, starts up front alongside Mohamed Elyounoussi. Leverkusen, meanwhile, are showing two changes to the side that started the weekend win against Frankfurt, with Eliesse Ben Seghir and Equi Fernández replacing Exequiel Palacios and Nathan Tella respectively.

© IMAGO/VITALII KLIUIEV

Copenhagen starting XI

Kotarski – Huescas, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, López - Larsson, Delaney (c), Lerager, Achouri - Moukoko, Elyounoussi

Copenhagen subs

Rúnarsson, Buur, Garananga, Claesson, Robert, Suzuki, Madsen, Zague, Meling, Clem

Bayer 04 starting XI

Flekken – Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba – Vázquez, Fernández, Andrich (c), Grimaldo – Ben Seghir, Tillman – Schick

Bayer 04 subs

Blaswich, Lomb, Echeverri, Arthur, Tape, Poku, García, Maza, Kofane, Belocian

Team news coming shortly

We're just an hour and 15 minutes from kick-off now, with team news dropping shortly ahead of tonight's early games.

Leverkusen's successful league phase

Last season, Alonso's Leverkusen carried out a successful Champions League league phase, winning five of their eight games to qualify for the last 16. That included an opening day 4-0 success away against Feyenoord almost exactly one year ago. Hjulmand would very much like to start this season's competition in a similar fashion.

© IMAGO/Kirchner-Media/TH

A positive omen for Leverkusen?

Ahead of tonight's showpiece event, Leverkusen's youth side also took on Copenhagen's youth side this afternoon in the opener of the UEFA Youth League and won 2-0. Perhaps this is a positive omen for Leverkusen's senior players.

When they last met

These two sides have only met twice in competitive football, and that was during the Champions League qualifiers for the 2014/15 season. Leverkusen won the first leg 3-2 in Copenhagen before dominating the second leg to win 4-0 at the BayArena. Stefan Kießling scored three of Leverkusen's seven goals. More recently, the two sides met in a friendly match in January 2023, where Leverkusen won 1-0.

© imago images / Mika Volkmann

How they got here

Bayer Leverkusen qualified directly for the Champions League as a result of finishing second in the Bundesliga last season. Copenhagen, meanwhile, had to qualify the hard way, by progressing through the preliminary rounds. In the first round, they beat Kosovan club KF Drita Gjilan 3-0 on aggregate before sweeping aside Swedish neighbours Malmö FF 5-0, and finally they beat FC Basel 3-1 to qualify for the league stage.

Recent results

Both sides experienced very different results this last weekend. Leverkusen and Hjulmand grabbed their first league win of the season as they overcame Frankfurt 3-1, whereas Copenhagen lost 2-1 to rivals Bröndby IF.

A strong away following

Approximately 1,100 Leverkusen fans are set to make their way to the beautiful city of Copenhagen for tonight's game. The travelling fans will be looking to make plenty of noise to roar their players to victory.

The Danish record champions

Despite only being formed in 1992, Copenhagen are already the Danish record champions with 16 titles, a record they took from Kjøbenhavns Boldklub this past season. KB were one of the clubs that joined together to form FC Copenhagen in 1992. Copenhagen also hold the record for most cup wins with 10, having completed a domestic double this past season.

Kasper Hjulmand on Copenhagen and away days as coach of Lyngby and Nordsjælland

"Copenhagen are very good at home. I told my team that. It will be a celebratory evening at Parken, and we're prepared for it. I have many good memories of this stadium. With Lyngby and Nordsjælland, we were always underdogs. It's a different scenario here with a different team."

© IMAGO/Gonzales Photo/Rasmus Jensen

Jacob Neestrup (Copenhagen coach) on Leverkusen and Kasper Hjulmand

"He knows what he's getting into. He knows the game. He knows about European nights as a national coach but also in club football. His arrival has maybe changed the complexion of the game because Leverkusen now have a Danish coach who is well aware of this stadium and these players."

© IMAGO/Gonzales Photo/Rasmus Jensen

Danger man

With Magnus Mattson out due to injury, Mohamed Elyounoussi is the hosts' danger man. Only Mattson has managed more than his four goals in all competitions this term, while he leads the way for Copenhagen in terms of assists (six).

© IMAGO/Gonzales Photo/Rasmus Jensen

Familiar face

Former Borussia Dortmund player Youssoufa Moukoko - the youngest Bundesliga scorer of all time - is part of the home squad for this encounter. He has three goals in 13 appearances for his new club.

© IMAGO/David Inderlied

Early Leverkusen team news

Ezequiel Palacios' groin issue against Frankfurt means he can't play here. He will be joined on the sidelines by longer-term absentees Jonas Hofmann, Jeanuël Belocian and Martin Terrier, with Tella also missing out. Arthur, though, has recovered from illness to be part of the squad. As many as 13 players could make their Champions League debut for the club.

© INA FASSBENDER

Entering a fortress

While Copenhagen may have struggled against German teams in the past, their home form in European competition is nothing to be ignored. They've lost only two of their previous 18 home Champions League group stage/league phase matches, winning eight and drawing eight while keeping six clean sheets in the last nine.

© IMAGO/Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg

Copenhagen's German hurdle

Last season's 4-3 aggregate triumph over Heidenheim in the UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-offs was the hosts' first-ever victory against German opposition. The Danish club had failed to win any of their 15 previous matches against German sides, drawing five and losing 10 of those encounters.

0:59

Watch: Grimaldo's free-kick goals

The Spaniard has scored five goals from direct free-kicks in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen.

Off the mark

Leverkusen will feel that their Champions League opener has come just at the right time for them. They travel to Copenhagen having secured a dramatic first win of the Bundesliga season against Frankfurt, and a first three points for new coach Kasper Hjulmand.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

1:03

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Alejandro Grimaldo scored two free-kicks as nine-man Bayer Leverkusen held on against Eintracht Frankfurt to give new head coach Kasper Hjulman a winning start.

Welcome!

Welcome to live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's trip to Copenhagen on Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season.

About the clubs

Bayer Leverkusen

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