Wirtz records brace in first Champions League match as Leverkusen defeat Feyenoord
Less than two weeks removed from the end of their historic league unbeaten run, Xabi Alonso's Bayer 04 Leverkusen have now strung together two lopsided victories on-the-bounce. In his debut at Champions' League level, German attacking phenom Florian Wirtz recorded a brace as the German Bundesliga champions travelled to Erdevisie runners-up Feyenoord Rotterdam and captured a 4-0 victory. A little bit of luck helped the German champs prevail in a match that wasn't competitive after the opening 45.
Xabi - known for his regular heavy midweek rotations during last season's historic campaign - surprised many by making just one change to the XI that lined up in the league last weekend against Hoffenheim. Jeremie Frimpong returned the the starting lineup after the break that saw him miss out against both Germany and Pellegrino Matarazzo's Kraichguaer. Frimpong took over for Nathan Tella at the right wingback slot in Alonso's 3-4-3. The Dutchman was immediately active on the right flank, squaring the ball into the box less than sixty seconds after kickoff.
After an assertive start, Germany's red company team did not have to wait long to celebrate their first goal. Wirtz calmly converted the 1-0 5th after Robert Andrich played him forward with a strong midfield ball-win. Four minutes later, the Dutch hosts thought they had notched an equalizer. Ramiz Zerrouki nevertheless saw his presumed 1-1 chalked off after VAR confirmed he received began the sequence in an offside position. Feyenoord continued to press forward over the next ten minutes, but could manage nothing apart from hopeful distance efforts.
South Korean international In-Beom Hwang forced a stellar save out B04 keeper Lukas Hradecky in the 29th. The hope for the hosts would prove short lived, however, as the German guests doubled their advantage on the other side of the hour-mark. Boniface executed a clever lay-off for Frimpong on the outside of the area in the 31st. With a little luck from a deflection, Alejandro Grimaldo was able to tap in a rebound of Frimpong's effort off the post from close range. Zerrouki regrettably found himself on the wrong side of a similar play that could have secured the 1-2 moments later.
With brutal efficiency, die Werkself then hit the 3-0 in the 36th. Wirtz dusted off a Frimpong cross at the end of a sharp and pacey Michael Terrier induced counter. Matters got even worse for the De club aan de Maas before it was time to head into the tunnel. German keeper Timon Wellenreuther - a Karlsruhe native who broke into German football with eight Bundesliga appearances for FC Schalke 04 - turned the ball into his own net to give the visitors from his country a 4-0 halftime lead.
In command of an insurmountable lead, Xabi's crew were content to allow Brian Priske's men have most of the ball after the restart. Feyenoord's Quinten Timber did challenge Hradecky with a fierce effort in the 55th. The best chances for at least a consolation goal from the 2023/24 Erdevisie runners-up were then frustrated on two more occasions (67th and 73rd) by the offside flag. Bayer sub Exequiel Palacios missed a chance to add a final tally at the death.