UCL: Wirtz nets twice as Leverkusen defeat Feyenoord

SourceEurosport

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Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen scored four times in a stunning first half as they won 4-0 against Feyenoord in their opening Champions League tie.

Xabi Alonso’s side made history with their first-ever Bundesliga title last season, going unbeaten in the process.

They travelled to Rotterdam for their first match in the Champions League’s new format, and star forward Florian Wirtz opened the scoring with an accurate, low shot from the edge of the box after just five minutes.

Leverkusen have already suffered one loss in the Bundesliga this season, but it was business as usual on their return to Europe as Alejandro Grimaldo finished off a typically smart passing move to double the lead after 30 minutes.

It took just six more minutes for Leverkusen to go 3-0 up as Wirtz clipped in a cross at the back post for his brace.

Timon Wellenreuther then put through his own net just before the end of the first half to leave the Dutch side well adrift.

With the result almost guaranteed, neither side were able to add to the scoreline in the remaining 45 after the restart.

In the other early kick-off, Crvena Zvezda and Benfica met in Serbia with Benfica coming away with a 2-1 win.

Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu put the away side ahead with a close-range finish at the far post after nine minutes, and just before the half-hour mark, Orkun Kokcu scored with an outstanding free-kick to double the advantage.

Milson pulled one back on 86 minutes to give Benfica a nervy few minutes, but they ultimately came away with three points.