UEFA Champions League League Stage - 4
Benfica 0 - 1 FT Bayer Leverkusen
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Ibrahim Maza 41'
HT
Edmond Tapsoba 55'
↓ C. Echeverri ↑M. Tillman 57'
↓ C. M. Kofane ↑P. Schick 57'
62' Dodi Lukebakio
P. Schick 65'
69' ↓ L. Barreiro ↑A. Dedic
69' ↓ S. Dahl ↑A. Schjelderup
69' ↓ G. Sudakov ↑G. Prestianni
78' Nicolás Otamendi
Malik Tillman 79'
↓ E. Poku ↑E. Ben Seghir 88'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Benfica
Goalkeepers
A. Trubin 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
F. Aursnes 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
T. Araujo 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
N. Otamendi 
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
83
Passes
12
Duels
S. Dahl
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
75%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
E. Barrenechea
MAGNET
84
Activity
84
Activity
75
Passes
9
Duels
R. Rios 
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
51%
Pass Acc
D. Lukebakio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Barreiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
G. Sudakov
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
Forwards
V. Pavlidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
S. Soares 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
R. Obrador
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Dedic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Wynder
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Veloso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rego
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Prioste
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Ivanovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Schjelderup
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Prestianni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Araujo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bayer Leverkusen
Goalkeepers
M. Flekken 
OCTOPUS
5
Saves
5
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
J. Quansah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Bade
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
E. Tapsoba 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
3
Tackles
Midfielders
Arthur
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Maza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Garcia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Grimaldo 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
7
Duels Won
78%
Win %
Forwards
C. Echeverri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
E. Poku 
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
15%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
C. M. Kofane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
BENCH
J. Blaswich
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
N. Lomb
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Belocian
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Pohl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Tillman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Mensah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Culbreath
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Schick 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
33
Minutes
7.6
Rating
E. Ben Seghir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/12/2014 | Benfica | 0 - 0 | Bayer Leverkusen | UEFA Champions League | Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica |
| 01/10/2014 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 - 1 | Benfica | UEFA Champions League | BayArena |
09/12/2014
01/10/2014
Benfica Win
Bayer Leverkusen Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +10
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +9
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -6
P: 4 GD: -7
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -9
P: 4 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Schick's Precision Blow Silences Lisbon: Leverkusen's Fortress Holds at Estádio da Luz
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 27/100. This wasn't a masterclass—it was a lesson in intensity management, where Bayer Leverkusen's ruthless efficiency punished Benfica's wastefulness and exposed the gulf between Champions League contenders and pretenders.
Possession Without Purpose
Benfica controlled the ball for 53% of the match, stringing together 530 passes with 89% accuracy across Estádio da Luz. Yet the numbers told a story of frustration: 21 shots fired, only 6 finding the target. An expected goals figure of 1.62 reflected their dominance in volume but not conviction. The home side pressed relentlessly in the opening exchanges, corners arriving at regular intervals, but Mark Flekken's composure—five saves across the 90 minutes—turned away every genuine threat. Benfica created balance in midfield but lacked the final sniper's touch.
Leverkusen's Clinical Counterattack
Bayer Leverkusen arrived in Lisbon with 47% possession and a game plan built on restraint and precision. Just seven shots attempted, yet the xG of 0.74 masked their true efficiency: every chance carried stakes. In the 65th minute, Patrik Schick arrived at the right moment, converting with the clinical finish of a striker who understands Champions League football. The goal arrived from a rare moment of Leverkusen ambition, a counter-attack that exposed Benfica's stretched defence. Loïc Badé marshalled the backline with commanding authority (8.6 rating), while Alejandro Grimaldo's two key passes orchestrated the visitors' limited but lethal attacking forays.
The Turning Point
Schick's finish in the 65th minute—calm, decisive, unrepeatable—became the match's defining moment. Benfica threw bodies forward in desperation thereafter, but three yellow cards and mounting frustration replaced creativity. Leverkusen absorbed the pressure, three of their own yellows a testament to their disciplined fouling when needed. The away side's defensive structure never wavered; Flekken's five saves were the final barrier, but rarely were they tested by genuine quality.
Key Questions
What made Loïc Badé the Man of the Match?
Badé's commanding defensive display—reading the game, positioning flawlessly, neutralising Benfica's attacking threats—earned an 8.6 rating and MOTM honours.
How did Benfica dominate yet lose?
Possession ≠ penetration. Benfica's 21 shots, 53% possession, and 1.62 xG couldn't overcome Leverkusen's defensive intensity and Schick's clinical finishing.
What does this result mean for the group?
Leverkusen moves to 8 points with a crucial away victory. Benfica's 10 points remain vulnerable; they need wins, not possession.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Champions League Survival at Estádio da Luz
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 22/100. This is a desperate scramble for points as two historically elite sides attempt to claw their way out of the bottom-tier exclusion zone.
The Setup
The Stakes are unusually high for early November, but not for the reasons these fans at **Estádio da Luz** are used to. Benfica's European Form has plummeted with four losses in six games, leaving them 25th in the league stage. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen hasn't fared much better, sitting in 20th and struggling to find the defensive Balance that won them domestic titles last season. With very few Stars performing at their peak, this match feels more like a survivalist grind than a continental spectacle.
Key Battle
In a match devoid of high-flying confidence, the tactical battle shifts to the midfield anchor. Benfica will rely on the veteran leadership of Angel Di Maria to provide a moment of magic, while Bayer Leverkusen will look to Florian Wirtz to find pockets of space in a congested central zone. It is a duel of execution versus desperation; the first team to lose their discipline will likely see their European campaign effectively ended.
Our Prediction
Expect a nervous, low-quality affair. Both managers are likely to prioritize defensive stability over attacking flair to avoid a catastrophic loss. A 1-1 draw seems the most plausible outcome, as neither side currently possesses the clinical edge to dominate the other over 90 minutes.