Frankfurt Thrashes Galatasaray While Bayer Leverkusen Draws in Champions League Opener
Eintracht Frankfurt starts strong with a thrashing of Galatasaray while Bayer Leverkusen settles for a draw against Porto in their Champions League openers.
- • Eintracht Frankfurt won 4-1 against Galatasaray after being down 1-0.
- • Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Porto, conceding a late equalizer.
- • Frankfurt's coach praised the team's character and second-half performance.
- • Bayer Leverkusen's Rolfes criticized the team's passivity in the final minutes.
Key details
In an exciting start to the 2025 Champions League season for German clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt displayed a remarkable comeback against Galatasaray, winning 4-1 after initially trailing. This emphatic victory follows a difficult spell for Frankfurt, reflecting a significant turnaround in form. Coach of Frankfurt, Oliver Glasner, praised his team's second-half performance, stating, "We were relentless and showed great character to turn the game around."
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen had a more subdued opening, drawing 1-1 with Porto. Despite leading for much of the match, they conceded late, which left their manager, Rolfes, expressing disappointment. He noted, "We were too passive towards the end which cost us the three points." Rolfes emphasized the need for increased intensity, urging the players to maintain aggression and not drop their guard.
Frankfurt's match highlighted the capability of the Bundesliga team to challenge on a continental level, while Leverkusen's case reveals areas needing improvement as they look forward to upcoming fixtures. Frankfurt's strong showing positions them as a team to watch this season, particularly as they aim for further success in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Leverkusen must recalibrate their strategy if they are to avoid similar outcomes in future matches.