Leverkusen Shock Man City Away! Even Haaland and Doku Off the Bench Can’t Prevent City’s First UCL Loss of the Season – Matchday 5 Round-Up

I’m firmly with the City supporters on this one. What unfolded at the Etihad wasn’t some freak accident or cruel footballing twist — it felt inevitable from the moment the lineup dropped. Heavy rotation at home, in the Champions League, against a disciplined and hungry Leverkusen side was always going to invite trouble. And trouble arrived exactly as expected.

This wasn’t just about losing a match. It was about watching control slip away before the first whistle, about seeing familiar warning signs ignored. The frustration in the stands and among supporters wasn’t reactionary anger; it was recognition. Recognition that this version of City lacked edge, intensity, and respect for the occasion. The sense that the night was drifting into something flat, slow, and painful came early — and it never really left.

What stings most is that this happened at home. With a rotated XI that felt disconnected, the match carried the energy of a preseason experiment rather than a Champions League night. The disappointment is collective, sharp, and completely understandable.

Fan Reactions

• Pep really said “rotation,” huh?
• Leverkusen sitting in a back five? Yeah, this was always going to 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.
• He better not wait until the 75th minute again. Change it now.
• Away, fine. But at home? With this squad?
• Feel bad for the match-going fans. Paying Champions League prices for this.
• Subs at halftime. Even Pep knew that first half was unwatchable.
• So much for “resting” players. They’ll be more tired 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 something’s coming… and then nothing.
• If Haaland isn’t scoring, we’re cooked.
• Haaland looks exhausted from international duty.
• Is Aké losing every duel today?
• Back to Coneball. Sixty passes, zero danger.
• Painful to watch.
• Sell both right wingers. Start over.
• January can’t come soon enough. Some players showed exactly where they stand.
• Total domination from Leverkusen. We deserved nothing.
• Leverkusen: nine shot-stops. City: zero. Comedy.
• Rotating the keeper too? Pure Carabao Cup behavior.
• Reijnders shooting straight at the keeper — on brand.
• One loss, whatever… but Aké dropping off hurts.
• Bob actually looked fine. Rico Lewis? Invisible.
• Did Pep forget we’re going to the Bernabéu next?
• Pep’s stubborn tactics are the real issue.
• Aké struggling, Stones sluggish, injuries piling up.
• That right side offered zero threat.
• Home fans were robbed. Worst part of all.

What Remains

What lingers after the final whistle isn’t shock — it’s irritation mixed with clarity. Supporters saw exactly what went wrong and why. The frustration comes from familiarity, from patterns repeating themselves on a night that demanded seriousness and sharpness.

There’s still belief in the squad’s quality, and no one’s pretending a single loss defines a season. But this match left a sour aftertaste, especially for those in the stands. What remains is a demand for accountability, for respect toward the competition, and for lessons to actually be learned. The feeling is clear: nights like this shouldn’t happen — and shouldn’t be brushed aside.