Match: Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen
Date (local): Tuesday, 25 November 2025
On November 25 (local time), Manchester City hosted Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad in their UEFA Champions League League Phase Matchday 5 fixture.
City, sitting 4th with a 3–1–0 record, heavily rotated: Haaland, Doku, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and Donnarumma all started on the bench. Mamouche led the line, with Sávio and Bob on the wings, and Trafford in goal.
Leverkusen, under pressure with only one win so far and missing Tapsoba and Andrich through suspension, lined up with a makeshift back three and relied on Grimaldo, Poke, Schick, Tillman, and Kofana to hit City on the break.
City dominated possession early, but Leverkusen defended deep in a compact back five and refused to give away a clean chance.
Then came the shock: in the 23rd minute, Tillman switched play wide to Mazraoui, whose cross was cushioned by Kofana and smashed in by Grimaldo on the volley to give Leverkusen a surprise 1–0 lead.
Without Haaland or Doku on the pitch, City struggled to break down Leverkusen’s disciplined block. Reijnders had the best moment before halftime, but Flekken denied him with a strong save.
City threw on Doku, Foden, and O’Riley after the break, but Leverkusen struck again instead. In the 55th minute, Grimaldo recycled a switch, Mazraoui whipped in a cross, and Schick headed home to make it 2–0.
City then turned to Haaland, bringing him on in the 65th minute, and he almost pulled one back with a breakaway chance—but Flekken once again produced a huge stop.
Despite City’s late siege, Leverkusen held firm with heroic blocks and well-timed counters. Even in added time, City couldn’t break through.
Full-time: Manchester City 0–2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: Grimaldo (23’), Schick (55’)
Leverkusen claim back-to-back Champions League wins, while City suffer their first UCL defeat of the season and a second straight loss in all competitions.
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“Social Media Reactions”
XI | Trafford, Khusanov, Stones (C), Ake, Ait-Nouri, Lewis, Nico, Reijnders, Bobb, Savinho, Marmoush
SUBS | Bettinelli, Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Cherki, Doku, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Nunes, O’Reilly, Foden
Man City supporters on tonight’s chaos:
“Pep really said ‘rotation’ huh? 💀”
“Leverkusen sitting in a back five? Yeah this is gonna be pain.”
“PEP MASTERCLASS™ incoming… and not the good kind.”
“This lineup looks like he pulled names out of a hat.”
“Yep… saw this coming a mile away.”
“You field a Carabao Cup XI in the Champions League and—shock—concede. Who could’ve guessed?”
“He better not wait until the 75th minute again. Change it NOW.”
“Away? Sure. But at home? With THIS squad? Man’s taking the piss.”
“Feel bad for the match-going fans. Imagine paying CL prices to watch this preseason-level XI.”
“Okay, subs at halftime. Even Pep knew that first half was unwatchable.”
“So much for ‘resting’ players. They’re gonna be more tired after cleaning up this mess.”
“This is getting embarrassing.”
“Why are we letting them cross for free like it’s a charity event??”
“Small squad and he STILL rotates like we’re peak Barcelona.”
“Why keep Mamouche on and take Sávio off? What are we doing?”
“Does Donnarumma save the second goal? Asking for a friend.”
“Foden is carrying us again.”
“Sávio dribbles like he’s doing something, then… absolutely nothing. Worse than rookie-year Doku.”
“Honestly even with a full-strength XI, if Haaland isn’t scoring, we’re cooked.”
“Haaland looks gassed from international duty. Not himself lately.”
“Is Aké losing every duel today??”
“We’re back to ‘Coneball’. 60 passes, zero danger.”
“This was painful to watch.”
“Sell both right wingers. Just… start over.”
“If this game showed anything, it’s who needs to be loaned or shipped in January. Bob and Savinho—pack your bags.”
“Total domination from Leverkusen. We deserved nothing.”
“Leverkusen: 9 shot-stops.
City: 0 shot-stops.
Comedy.”
“Rotating the keeper too? This is literally Carabao Cup behavior.”
“Reijnders only shoots straight at the keeper. It’s his brand.”
“Still just one loss, so whatever… but Aké dropping off hurts.”
“Compared to Savinho, Bob actually looked fine. Rico Lewis… did he even play?”
“Did Pep forget the next match is at the Bernabéu?? Even out-of-form Madrid will cook us.”
“Forget the players, Pep’s tactical stubbornness is the real issue. Same slow jab-jab-jab possession no matter who plays.”
“Aké’s struggling, Stones looks sluggish at 30, injuries piling up… grim signs.”
“That right side with Bob + Kusunov was painful. Zero threat.”
“Home fans really got robbed tonight. Worst part of all.”
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