Bayer Leverkusen opened their Europa League campaign with a 2:0 victory over Celje at the Bay Arena. The hosts took an early lead through an own goal and added a second half strike to secure three points in the League Stage. It was a professional start for the German side, who dominated the opening exchanges.
It began with a moment of confusion for the visitors. Seslar bundled the ball into his own net in the fifteenth minute, giving Leverkusen the advantage and setting the tone for the evening.
F. Medina doubled the lead in the seventy-fourth minute, putting the result beyond doubt. By then, both managers had already reshuffled their lines, with nine changes recorded across the final hour. The visitors tried to find a way back but found themselves chasing shadows against a side that held every card.
Leverkusen controlled the tempo, holding 56 per cent of possession while registering thirteen shots to Celje’s four. And here's the thing, the hosts created five big chances compared to three for the visitors, and their expected goals total of 1.93 reflected the dominance on the pitch. Celje kept a clean sheet until the fifteenth minute but failed to test the goalkeeper enough to trouble the hosts.
The win leaves Bayer Leverkusen in third place with three points from one game, while Celje sit in thirty-fifth place with none. It was a comfortable win for the hosts, who did not travel to make up the numbers and instead set the pace. The table goes out the window in these games, but the early lead proved vital.
