Bayer Leverkusen faced their first setback in the Champions League, drawing 1-1 against Stade Brest after three matchdays. Coach Xabi Alonso was dealt a blow with the injury to Amine Adli, who exited the match early, while the team’s substitutions failed to alter their fortunes. Leverkusen took an early lead through Florian Wirtz but conceded before halftime. With upcoming fixtures, Alonso aims to regroup and maintain their position at the top of the table.
Bayer Leverkusen experienced their first setback of the Champions League season, finishing with a 1-1 draw against Brest on Wednesday evening.
After three rounds in the new Champions League format, only Aston Villa and Liverpool FC remain unbeaten, while both Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund have faced challenges. Dortmund suffered a heavy 5-2 loss to Real Madrid despite initially leading 2-0, and Leverkusen found themselves held to a draw in Brest.
Adli’s Injury Disrupts Leverkusen’s Plans
This draw proved particularly frustrating for coach Xabi Alonso as he not only lost two crucial points but also a key striker. Amine Adli, who had yet to score this season, was brought on to invigorate the attack alongside Jeremie Frimpong. Unfortunately, Adli had to leave the pitch due to injury after just 18 minutes.
Alonso remarked, “Amine sustained an ankle injury, and it doesn’t look good, so we’ll await further assessments.” He described the situation as “the worst news of the day.” Despite the disappointment of not securing a win against Stade Brest—the French team sitting fifth in the league—Alonso recognized that they, like Bayer, have had a strong start.
Substitutions Fail to Make an Impact
In light of Brest’s recent victories over Salzburg and Graz, Alonso opted for a rotation strategy for this away game. Adli has often played a substitute role, while Frimpong usually starts. Granit Xhaka made an unusual appearance off the bench. The three players entered the match in the 63rd minute to boost Leverkusen’s offensive push, but the effort proved fruitless.
Leverkusen had opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a goal from Florian Wirtz, set up by Jonas Hofmann. However, they allowed Pierre Lees-Melou to equalize just before halftime (39′), leaving the team dissatisfied as they reflected on a solid first half overshadowed by a lackluster second. Alonso and Xhaka received yellow cards for their protests in the match’s final moments, indicating the team’s frustration.
Looking Ahead to the Next Match
Despite the setback, players like Nordi Mukiele, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, remained optimistic about the upcoming match. “We have a game this weekend, so we need to move past this match and focus on the next challenge,” he stated. Mukiele made his Champions League debut after Alonso rotated eight positions from the previous Bundesliga match against Frankfurt.
Leverkusen is expected to adjust their lineup again for the match against Werder Bremen on Saturday, aiming to maintain their position at the top of the league. It’s likely that Alonso will reinstate Victor Boniface, who has scored seven goals this season, alongside Wirtz. Boniface was rested in Brest after a minor injury from a recent car accident, and his absence was felt as Patrik Schick, who replaced him, struggled to impact the game effectively.