Schick happens

Wednesday night in Lisbon, and Bayer 04 finally bags that elusive first Champions League win of the season. No fireworks, no samba football – but three gritty, glorious points that feel like aloe vera after the burn in Munich. Ugly? Absolutely. Deserved? You bet.

This wasn’t a game for the purists. It was trench warfare in football boots. Bayer didn't outplay Benfica – they outlasted them. Wave after wave of red shirts crashed into our backline, but the Werkself held firm. Special shoutout to Mark Flekken, who had the kind of night that goalkeepers write memoirs about. Benfica launched 21 shots – all of them found nothing but frustration and a Dutch wall in gloves.

And then came Patrik Schick. Off the bench, on the scoresheet, job done. His first effort was still more warm-up als goal attempt, but when the rebound floated onto his head, he did what a striker does – bury it. One touch of class, one-nil Leverkusen, and suddenly Lisbon went quiet.

Let’s be honest: it wasn’t pretty. But who needs pretty when you’ve got fight, sweat, and just enough Schick magic? With a starting eleven that’s young enough to be carded at every Kneipe in Germany, Bayer didn’t dazzle – they survived. And that’s what you sometimes need in Europe.

Even Malik Tillman made his comeback look routine after weeks out – the man stepped in like he’d just paused the game, not missed a month. It speaks volumes for the spirit Hjulmand’s squad is showing. They’re learning. Fast.

Yes, Benfica had more possession, more shots, more flair. Bayer had grit, guts – and the only number that matters: three points. It wasn’t a performance to frame, but it might just be a turning point.