Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments
Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.
Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen Post-Match Review
The match started evenly, but Bayer 04 Leverkusen took control early with Alejandro Grimaldo finding the net in the 23rd minute, assisted by Christian Kofane. Manchester City responded with three half-time substitutions, bringing on Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku, and Nico O’Reilly in place of Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, and Rayan Ait Nouri, respectively, aiming to shift the momentum. Despite City’s efforts, Leverkusen held firm through the first half.
In the second half, Patrik Schick doubled Leverkusen’s lead in the 54th minute, with an assist from Ibrahim Maza, putting the visitors in a strong position. City made further changes at 65 minutes, introducing Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki for Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov, but couldn’t break down Leverkusen’s defence. Yellow cards to Grimaldo at 60 minutes and Kofane at 78 minutes added tension, before Leverkusen brought on Nathan Tella for Kofane at 82 minutes, seeing out a solid away win.
Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen Statistics
Manchester City edged possession with 55% to Leverkusen’s 45%, and dominated corners 9-3 alongside 55 successful dribbles compared to 30, suggesting they controlled much of the play and created opportunities through individual skill. However, their lack of assists (0 to Leverkusen’s 2) highlighted a failure to convert pressure into goals, which ultimately cost them the match despite the territorial advantage.
Leverkusen picked up two yellow cards while City had none, reflecting a more disciplined performance from the hosts, though no red cards or penalties were issued on either side. City utilised all five substitutions—three at half-time and two at 65 minutes— in an attempt to turn the tide, while Leverkusen made just one change at 82 minutes, swapping Kofane for Tella, which helped them manage the game efficiently without needing extensive adjustments.
Key Moments from Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
The game’s opening goal came in the 23rd minute when Alejandro Grimaldo scored for Leverkusen, assisted by Christian Kofane, setting the tone for their efficient counter-attacking approach. Patrik Schick’s strike in the 54th minute, assisted by Iker Maza, proved decisive, extending the lead and forcing City into reactive mode. City’s triple substitution at 46 minutes—Foden on for Lewis, Doku for Bobb, and O’Reilly for Ait Nouri—aimed to inject energy, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit.
Yellow cards disrupted Leverkusen’s rhythm slightly, with Grimaldo booked at 60 minutes and Kofane at 78 minutes, the latter shortly before being replaced by Tella at 82 minutes. Further City changes at 65 minutes saw Haaland replace Marmoush, and Cherki come on for Khusanov, creating some late pressure but no breakthrough.
Manchester City 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen Lineups
Manchester City
Manchester City lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on width and quick transitions, with standout partnerships likely in midfield to support the forward line and exploit dribbling strengths evident in the stats.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen deployed a 5-3-2 shape, emphasising defensive solidity and counter-attacks, where the wing-backs like Grimaldo played key roles in both phases, contributing to their effective assists and goal-scoring.
Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match
Alejandro Grimaldo earned Man of the Match honours for his crucial 23rd-minute goal and overall influence on Leverkusen’s left flank, despite picking up a yellow card at 60 minutes; his performance encapsulated the visitors’ clinical edge in a hard-fought encounter.
Updated Form Guide
Manchester City
Recent Champions League matches:
- Loss: 0-2 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (H)
- Win: 4-1 vs Borussia Dortmund (H)
- Win: 2-0 vs Villarreal (A)
- Draw: 2-2 vs Monaco (A)
- Win: 2-0 vs Napoli (H)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Recent Champions League matches:
- Win: 2-0 vs Manchester City (A)
- Win: 1-0 vs Benfica (A)
- Loss: 2-7 vs Paris Saint Germain (H)
- Draw: 1-1 vs PSV (H)
- Draw: 2-2 vs FC København (A)
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Manchester City
Manchester City will aim to recover from this home defeat, addressing their inability to convert dominance into goals, with their next fixture providing an opportunity to regroup and utilise their squad depth more effectively.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen can build on this impressive away victory, maintaining their defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat, as they head into their next match with confidence from the clean sheet and efficient finishing.
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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.
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