Leverkusen Shock Manchester City in Rare Home Champions League Defeat

A Rare European Slip on Home Soil

Manchester City’s fortress finally cracked. For the first time since September 2018, Pep Guardiola’s side lost a Champions League group match at the Etihad, falling 2–0 to a sharp and disciplined Bayer Leverkusen. The last team to beat them at home in this competition was Lyon; six years later, Leverkusen produced a performance just as bold.

Guardiola made a highly unusual decision before kick-off, rotating ten of his starters after the weekend loss to Newcastle. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were both benched, a surprise given City have another four days before facing Leeds. The gamble did not pay off. The heavily changed lineup lacked rhythm, conviction and defensive clarity, and Leverkusen punished them.

Guardiola admitted the rotation was excessive. He said it was the first time he had ever changed so many players and that the team played with fear of making mistakes rather than with their usual control. The loss leaves City stuck on 10 points ahead of a difficult meeting with Real Madrid.

City’s Issues Run Deeper Than Rotation

Beyond the selection choices, the match exposed something more troubling for Guardiola: City no longer feel like the relentless, unstoppable machine of previous seasons. With Rodri missing, City’s midfield lacked its usual protection and Leverkusen were allowed to break dangerously through the middle and out wide. Malik Tillman, Ernest Poku and Ibrahim Maza repeatedly found space that would usually be closed down long before danger developed.

City had early chances of their own. Nathan Aké forced a brilliant save from Mark Flekken, while Oscar Bobb and Tijjani Reijnders worked openings but could not convert. Still, Leverkusen looked the more threatening side. Poku was brought down in the box in what many thought was a penalty, but City escaped. Moments later, they were punished anyway.

Leverkusen Strike First

City were caught in transition once again as the ball was worked out to the right. Maza whipped in a dangerous delivery, Christian Kofane cushioned it back, and Alejandro Grimaldo hammered a composed finish past James Trafford. It was everything Guardiola hates: passive defending, slow reactions, and a lack of structure.

City’s response was muted. Without Haaland on the pitch and with Foden also watching, their attacking threat was limited to long-range efforts and half-chances. As the cold settled into Manchester, the Etihad felt even frostier.

Guardiola attempted to shake things up at half-time by introducing Jérémy Doku, Nico O’Reilly and Foden. But the changes only opened more space for Leverkusen. Maza again delivered from the right and Patrik Schick climbed above the sleeping City defence to head in the second goal.

Haaland Arrives but Too Late

The camera found Haaland warming up, visibly frustrated. He came on alongside Rayan Cherki after 65 minutes, instantly becoming City’s most threatening player. He forced Flekken into a brave save at his feet and powered several runs that reminded the stadium of his game-changing presence. But like City all evening, he found no breakthrough. Even late pressure and a series of corners did nothing to alter the result.

Leverkusen’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, praised his team’s character, and rightfully so. They were clinical, organised and confident—everything City were not.