German prodigy Florian Wirtz made a stunning Champions League debut, scoring twice to lead Bayer Leverkusen to a dominant 4-0 victory over Feyenoord Rotterdam in their opening match of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League. The comprehensive win marks a strong start for the reigning Bundesliga champions as they aim to make a deep run in Europe.
Just two weeks after their historic domestic unbeaten streak ended, Xabi Alonso’s side has bounced back with consecutive emphatic victories. The latest triumph in Rotterdam saw Wirtz’s brilliance on full display, with the 21-year-old netting his brace as Leverkusen took control early and never looked back.
Despite being known for rotating his lineup, Alonso made just one change to the squad that faced Hoffenheim over the weekend, bringing Jeremie Frimpong back into the starting eleven in a 3-4-3 formation. Frimpong quickly made his presence felt, delivering a dangerous cross into the box within the first minute.
Leverkusen’s aggressive start paid off when Wirtz opened the scoring in the 5th minute, calmly slotting home after Robert Andrich won the ball in midfield. Feyenoord thought they had equalized minutes later, but Ramiz Zerrouki’s goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. Although the hosts continued to push forward, they were limited to long-range attempts and struggled to break down Leverkusen’s defense.
Feyenoord’s best chance came when South Korean midfielder In-Beom Hwang forced a superb save from Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky in the 29th minute. However, Leverkusen doubled their lead moments later when Alejandro Grimaldo tapped in a rebound off a Frimpong effort that struck the post.
Wirtz added his second in the 36th minute, converting Frimpong’s cross after a lightning-quick counterattack orchestrated by Michael Terrier. The half ended in further misery for Feyenoord as goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Leverkusen a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.
With the game all but settled, Leverkusen shifted into a more conservative approach in the second half, allowing Feyenoord more possession. Despite some promising moments, including a powerful shot from Quinten Timber and several offside disruptions, the Dutch side could not find a consolation goal.
Leverkusen substitute Exequiel Palacios nearly added a fifth late on, but the scoreline remained 4-0 as Alonso’s men cruised to a statement win. With Wirtz’s star shining brightly, Leverkusen will be full of confidence as they look ahead to their next European challenge.
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