Bayer Leverkusen held to 1-1 draw by Brest

Bayer Leverkusen's Spanish defender #20 Alex Grimaldo (L) is is tackled by Brest's French forward #19 Ludovic Ajorque (R) during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 3 football match between Brest (FRA) and Bayer Leverkusen (GER) at the Stade de Roudourou in Guingamp, northern France, on October 23, 2024. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen were held to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Germany starlet Florian Wirtz netting for the visitors.

A third goal in three outings in the competition for Wirtz handed Leverkusen the advantage, but Pierre Lees-Melou crashed home a volley to level matters in the first period.

Both sides went into the match with 100 percent records from their two outings so far in the league phase.

“I think a lot of people thought we were going to be on the end of a hammering before kick-off,” Brest’s Lees-Melou told Canal+.

“But we certainly didn’t embarrass ourselves. It proves that we’re a team that has heart, that plays together.

Wirtz, 21, sent the Bundesliga champions into a 24th-minute lead with an arrowed finish from 20 yards.

Wirtz nearly doubled up on 29 minutes but could only muster a tame effort at goal after dancing his way through three defenders on the edge of the box.

But it was Brest who struck next when a looping ball dropped to Lees-Melou on the edge of the box, and the midfielder lashed a volley into the bottom corner six minutes before the interval.

Both sides fought for the upper hand in the second half, with Brest surviving desperate Leverkusen appeals for a penalty after the hour when Jonas Hofmann’s cross struck a hand, but it was adjudged to be in a natural position.

Mahdi Camara then stung Matej Kovar’s palms in the Leverkusen goal with a powerful, but too centrally placed, half-volley with 15 minutes remaining.

Substitute Mama Balde had a golden opportunity for the home team on 87 minutes but hit the sidenetting as he closed in on goal from a tight angle.

Bayer coach Xabi Alonso was left to throw his arms up in frustration as the clock ticked into injury time when VAR again decided not to award his side a penalty after Hofmann was felled in the box.

Wirtz blazed a chance over the crossbar when well positioned inside the box in the 95th minute as Leverkusen sought desperately a late goal that has become a trademark of the side over the last season.

It did not come, however, as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

AFP.