Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League tale draws to a close after defeat against Arsenal | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen drew the curtains on a very respectable cup run after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal in North London on Tuesday evening (3-1 on aggregate).

Prior to their expulsion from UCL, however, Leverkusen’s story began all the way back in September in Copenhagen. It wasn’t to be a dream start to their European campaign, though, as Kasper Hjulmand’s side snatched a late 2-2 draw in the Danish capital, due in large part to Alejandro Grimaldo netting a late screamer.

The opening day result laid the foundations for what would prove to be an undulating league phase for Die Werkself, who followed Matchday 1 disappointment up with another draw – this time at home to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven (1-1).

Draws would then turn to defeats as next up for the 2023/24 Bundesliga winners was the unenviable task of facing the Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain – a hurdle which proved too big for the German outfit to clear, as they tasted a bitter 7-2 thrashing at the BayArena.

Nevertheless, after a rocky start which left Leverkusen threatened with an early exit, Die Werkself’s fortunes would ultimately turn around with back-to-back away wins, first in Portugal, then in England. Patrik Schick scored the only goal of a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Benfica in Lisbon – his first on the continent this term – an act which he followed up with another in a stunning win over Manchester City the following outing (2-0).

Further north-English competition followed in the form of Newcastle United, with whom Leverkusen drew 2-2, before the German side would suffer a shock 2-0 defeat away to their future knockout phase play-off opponents Olympiacos.

Nevertheless, Leverkusen saw out the league phase in strong fashion, convincingly downing Villarreal 3-0 as they finished 16th in the league, after which they were handed the opportunity to make amends against their Matchday 7 Greek tormentors.

Returning to Piraeus for their knockout phase play-off first leg, Schick netted a three-minute brace in the second half, to take his tally for the campaign up to four – leaving him Die Werkself’s joint-top scorer with Grimaldo (on four) by the campaign’s curtain call.

The Czech’s double ultimately proved decisive as Hjulmand’s side dug in for the return leg at the BayArena, delivering a water-tight defensive performance to hold their visitors to a stalemate, and advance 2-0 on aggregate.

Next on the Werkself hit list, however, was Arsenal. And with the Gunners came subplots aplenty.

The BayArena’s once-beloved son, Kai Havertz, was to make his return to the club where he spent 10 years for the first time in a competitive setting. The 55-time Germany international made 150 total appearances in all competitions across four seasons for Leverkusen, scoring 46 goals.

Alongside him, Piero Hincapié, who was an integral part of Die Werkself legendary double-winning side of 2023/24, was also due to face his parent club – where he made 166 total appearances – after joining the Gunners on loan in Summer 2025.

Composure was the name of the game for Leverkusen in the first leg against the prospective Premier League champions. After shutting the Gunners out for the first half, Hjulmand’s side assumed control after the restart, and were set to continue their unbeaten record against English opposition in this season’s instalment of the competition.

Captain Robert Andrich provided the go-ahead goal, nodding home from an inswinging Grimaldo corner to punish Arsenal in the fashion that they themselves had come to be known for this term.

However, there was another role reversal waiting in the wings. After Leverkusen squandered further opportunities to double their advantage, Malik Tillman conceded an 89th-minute penalty for a dubious foul on Noni Madueke, which hero-turned-villain Havertz stepped up to dispatch, giving ‘Laterkusen’ a taste of their own medicine.

Nevertheless, at 1-1, the tie was finely poised for the second leg in the English capital – something Hjulmand was eager to point out. Despite being the underdogs on paper, the Dane declared in Leverkusen’s pre-match press conference: “We expect a very close game. In the first leg, we didn’t give them much of a chance. We’ll try to be just as dominant second time around. We’re confident we can win here and that we can advance in this competition.”

But it wasn’t to be. Naming an unchanged side across both legs, the German side struggled with the early pressure on the night. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich was in inspired form in the opening 45, but he still couldn’t keep out a sumptuous volley from Eberechi Eze after 36 minutes which put the Gunners in the driving seat.

Leverkusen were not visibly disheartened by falling behind, but fellow England international Declan Rice wrapped things up for the Premier League leaders in the second half with a composed, close-ranged finish.

Alas, Die Werkself fought to the bitter end, nearly reducing arrears through Christian Kofane, but ultimately, the wait for a quarter-final appearance – which would be their first since back in 2002 – must go on.

GGFN | Sam Carey, reporting from Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)