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Dive into Bwin’s 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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen took an early lead in this encounter, with A. Grimaldo finding the net in the 23rd minute following an assist from C. M. Kofane, setting the tone for their efficient counter-attacking approach. Manchester City, despite holding 55% possession, struggled to create clear chances from their dominance in the first half, leading to a triple substitution at the break as R. Lewis, O. Bobb, and R. Ait Nouri made way for P. Foden, J. Doku, and N. O’Reilly, respectively. The visitors maintained control, but Leverkusen looked comfortable absorbing pressure.
The second half saw Leverkusen double their advantage when P. Schick scored in the 54th minute, assisted by I. Maza, capitalising on a swift break. Manchester City responded with further changes at 65’, bringing on E. Haaland and R. Cherki for O. Marmoush and A. Khusanov, but they failed to break down a resolute defence. Yellow cards for Grimaldo in the 60th minute and Kofane in the 78th disrupted Leverkusen’s rhythm slightly. Yet, they held firm to secure a 2-0 victory, with their lone substitution seeing N. Tella replace Kofane at 82’.
Manchester City’s 55% possession and 9 corners compared to Leverkusen’s 3 underlined their territorial edge. They came up against a resolute Leverkusen defence and a goalkeeper, Flekken, who was in inspired form. Successful dribbles favoured City at 55 to 30, suggesting better individual skill in advancing the ball, yet this didn’t translate to shots on target or breakthroughs against a compact defence.
The home side's five substitutions—three at half-time and two at 65’—indicated an attempt to inject freshness, while Leverkusen’s single change at 82’ reflected confidence in their setup; two yellow cards for the winners added caution but didn’t result in reds or further disruption.
These numbers highlight how Leverkusen’s clinical finishing from limited opportunities trumped City’s volume-based approach, with no penalties or injury-time goals altering the flow, ultimately shaping a result where efficiency overrode statistical dominance.
The game’s decisive moments came from Leverkusen’s sharp finishing, starting with Grimaldo’s goal at 23’ from Kofane’s assist, which shifted momentum and forced City into a reactive mode. Schick’s strike at 54’, set up by Maza, effectively sealed the win, exploiting spaces left by City’s forward push.
City’s half-time triple substitution injected pace through Foden, Doku, and O’Reilly replacing Lewis, Bobb, and Ait Nouri, while later changes at 65’ saw Haaland and Cherki come on for Marmoush and Khusanov in a bid for goals to no avail. Yellow cards to Grimaldo at 60’ for a tactical foul and Kofane at 78’ for persistent infringement briefly tested Leverkusen’s discipline without leading to a red.
Manchester City lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, emphasising width and midfield control to dominate possession, with partnerships like the central defenders and attacking midfielders key to building play from the back.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen deployed a 5-3-2 shape, focusing on defensive solidity and quick transitions, where the wing-backs and forward duo formed effective outlets for counter-attacks.
A. Grimaldo earned Man of the Match honours for his composed goal at 23’ and overall influence on Leverkusen’s left flank, combining defensive duties with attacking threat despite picking up a yellow card at 60’.
Recent Champions League matches:
Recent Champions League matches:
Following this 2-0 defeat, Manchester City will aim to regroup and leverage their possession strengths in upcoming matches, with their next fixture against Leeds providing an opportunity to address finishing issues seen here.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen can build on this solid 2-0 win, showcasing clinical efficiency that boosts confidence, as they prepare for their next outing against Borussia Dortmund, hoping to maintain momentum in their domestic campaign.
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