Bayer Leverkusen defeated Benfica with a 0-1 away win at the Estádio da Luz on Wednesday on matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League League Phase match of the 2025/26 season.

In the first half, Lukébakio's finesse shot hit the crossbar, and Otamendi's header also struck the crossbar. In the second half, substitute Schick scored with a header, and Badé's scored from a close-range follow-up shot but was disallowed. Ultimately, the match ended with Leverkusen winning 0-1 away against Benfica. After this round of matches, Die Werkself, who finally secured their first Champions League victory of the season, temporarily sits in 21st place with 5 points, while the struggling As Águias remain second-to-last with 0 points.

First Half

In the 11th minute, Benfica launched a quick counter-attack. Richard Ríos delivered a long pass from his own back half. After beating the offside trap, Dodi Lukébakio quickly followed up, got the ball and dribbled into the right side of the box before skillfully taking a left-footed finesse shot against the outrushing Mark Flekken, but his shot unfortunately struck the top right corner of the crossbar and bounced off! Benfica missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock early!

2 minutes later, Nicolás Otamendi passes horizontally from near the midfield center circle, and after receiving the pass, Richard Ríos took a few steps before taking a right-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Flekken.

In the 20th minute, Leverkusen had a free-kick opportunity. Álex Grimaldo took the free-kick by crossing it into the box. Christian Kofane attempeted with a header in the box, however his effort was saved by Anatoliy Trubin.

6 minutes later, Ríos passes horizontally from the center of the box. Leandro Barreiro quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his right foot from the center of the box. His shot was intiially blocked and cleared off not far away by Loïc Badé. After picking up the loose ball, Lukébakio made a left-footed follow-up shot from the edge of the penality area, but his shot was saved by Flekken.

In the 31st minute, Heorhiy Sudakov delivered an diagonal overhead pass from the left wing. After beating the offside trap, Barreiro rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort went just slightly wide of the bottom left of the post.

2 minutes later, Benfica got a corner opportunity. Sudakov took the corner by crossing into the box, Nicolás Otamendi rose high and attempted with a header in the box, but unfortunately, his effort hit the crossbar and bounced off! Benfica missed another golden opportunity to break the deadlock!

In the 43rd minute, Sudakov delivered a low diagonal through ball from the midfield center circle. After beating the offside trap, Lukébakio quickly followed up, got the ball, and dribbled into the right side of the box before volleying with his left foot against the outrushing Flekken. His shot was parried and cleared off not far away by the later. After picking up loose ball, Fredrik Aursnes passes horizontally from the right side of the box. Upon receiving the pass, Vangelis Pavlidis made a right-footed follow-up shot from the center of the box, but his shot was blocked by Badé.

Shortly after, Benfica launched a quick counter-attack. Barreiro intercepted the ball and passes horizontally from the right wing. Upon receiving the pass, Otamendi volleyed with his right foot from the center of the box, but his shot was saved by Flekken.

At halftime, Benfica and Leverkusen temporarily go into the break with a goalless draw.

Second Half

Both sides switched sides as the match continued. In the 51st minute, Lukébakio passes horizontally from the right wing. Upon receiving the pass, Pavlidis took a left-footed long shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the left post. 

14 minutes later, Grimaldo delivered a through ball from the midfield center circle. After beating offside trap, Patrik Schick quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying with his left footed from the left side of the box. His shot was initially parried away by Trubin and then headed off not away by Samuel Dahl. After picking up the loose ball, Schick scored with a header in the box. Leverkusen finally broke the deadlock to take a 0-1 lead! This is the Czech international striker's fifth goal in all competitions this season, and his 86th goal for the club in his career as a Die Werkself player!

In the 76th minute, Loïc Badé played a through ball from the front. Upon receiving the pass, Schick strucked the ball with a left-footed shot from the right side of the box. His shot was initially parried and cleared off not far away by Trubin. After picking up the loose ball, Badé scored by slotting the ball into the top right corner of the net with a right-footed follow-up shot from the center of the box. However, the linesman immediately raised his flag, and correctly indicated that Schick was caught offside. Hence the goal was ruled out!

In the 6th minute of stoppage time, Andreas Schjelderup crossed into the box from the left wing, Upon receiving the pass, Lukébakio took a left-footed half-volley the ball from the center of the box, but his shot was saved by Flekken.

When the final whistle is blown, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Benfica 0-1 with a away win.