European away nights are never easy, and our trip to face Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg was no exception. It was a tactical chess match from start to finish.
A Tense Affair
Leverkusen showed why they are notoriously difficult to break down. They sat deep, absorbed pressure, and looked to strike on the counter. The first half ended goalless, and Robert Andrich was fortunate to see it out: booked in the opening seconds for hauling down Viktor Gyökeres, then body-checking him near the touchline without a second yellow from Halil Umut Meler.
Andrich made us pay a minute into the second half. David Raya tipped over Martin Terrier's header, and from the corner Andrich stole in at the far post to head the hosts in front.
Havertz Haunts His Former Club (Again)
We pushed hard for an equaliser and got the reward with a minute of normal time left. Substitute Noni Madueke went down under Malik Tillman's sliding challenge, and after a long VAR check the penalty stood. Up stepped Kai Havertz, back at the BayArena for the first time since leaving in 2020, and he buried it.
Havertz admitted afterwards that he felt for his old teammates. Fair enough. Nobody in red was apologising for the point.
With the tie perfectly balanced, all eyes turn to the Emirates for the deciding leg!
Man of the Match: Kai Havertz 🇩🇪
Showed incredible nerve to dispatch the pressure penalty against his old team.