Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run in the UEFA Champions League to four with a late equaliser against Newcastle United to salvage a share of the spoils.
Die Werkself took a deserved lead through Robert Andrich but the visitors replied with goals after the break from Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley. After Bruno Guimarães came close for the Magpies, it was Alejandro Grimaldo who proved the hero for Leverkusen, netting an equaliser two minutes from time.
Leverkusen take an early lead
Kasper Hjulmand – who was absent from the touchline due to personal reasons – made three changes from the team that fell to a 2-0 defeat against Bundesliga struggles Augsburg at the weekend, with Jarrel Quansah, Arthur, Alejandro Grimaldo coming in for Loïc Badé, Jonas Hofmann and Martin Terrier.
It would be the hosts who took an early lead when Robert Andrich’s header back across goal went in off Newcastle captain Guimarães after 13 minutes. Patrik Schick then thought he won a penalty minutes later when he was brought down by Malick Thiaw but after a VAR check for a potential spot kick and red card, it was deemed that the challenge was just outside of the area.
Despite Newcastle’s dominance in the first-half, it was Leverkusen that went into the break ahead with Ernest Poku and Quansah coming close.
Newcastle United score two unanswered goals, but B04 leave it late
An injury to Schick meant that Christian Kofane emerged for the second-half, but it was Newcastle that would score the next goal. After a lapse in concentration, Mark Flekken allowed Nick Woltemade to pounce before the former VfB Stuttgart attacker was brought down by the Dutchman, with Anthony Gordon converting the resulting penalty.
Gordon then nearly added a second when his effort cannoned back off the post just after the hour mark as Newcastle upped the intensity.
Poku spurned an excellent opportunity to regain Leverkusen’s lead when his effort was blocked by Lewis Hall after a run from his own half but after surviving that scare, it was Newcastle who took the lead for the first time when Lewis Miley headed the ball past Flekken.
As Newcastle United pushed for a third with Thiaw coming close and Guimarães hitting the post, it was captain Grimaldo – who returned to the starting line-up following an injury – who fired home past Aaron Ramsdale to salvage a point for Hjulmand’s side.
