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| Bayer Leverkusen bounce back against Benfica to earn their first points | Bayer Leverkusen bounce back against Benfica to earn their first points |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bayer Leverkusen outclassed the former European champions Benfica 3-1 on Wednesday to earn their first points in the Champions League Group C and bounce back in style from an opening defeat to Monaco. | |
| First-half goals from Stefan Kiessling, with some help from the blundering Benfica keeper Júlio César, and Son Heung-min settled the hosts’ nerves and put them on track for their first win in the competition with a dominant performance. | |
| Eduardo Salvio briefly pulled one back for the struggling Portuguese in the 62nd minute before a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty settled matters only a minute later. | Eduardo Salvio briefly pulled one back for the struggling Portuguese in the 62nd minute before a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty settled matters only a minute later. |
| Leverkusen moved up to three points, one behind Zenit St Petersburg and Monaco, who drew 1-1 earlier on Wednesday. Benfica, who were exceedingly weak with not a single shot on or off target for more than an hour, are bottom of the group without a point. | Leverkusen moved up to three points, one behind Zenit St Petersburg and Monaco, who drew 1-1 earlier on Wednesday. Benfica, who were exceedingly weak with not a single shot on or off target for more than an hour, are bottom of the group without a point. |
| The hosts set a fierce pace early on with South Korean Son almost scoring after four minutes and only being denied by a fine save from Brazil keeper Júlio César. | The hosts set a fierce pace early on with South Korean Son almost scoring after four minutes and only being denied by a fine save from Brazil keeper Júlio César. |
| Lars Bender then hit the post with a deflected shot from inside the penalty area as Leverkusen continued to press for a quick goal to put them in control. | Lars Bender then hit the post with a deflected shot from inside the penalty area as Leverkusen continued to press for a quick goal to put them in control. |
| Júlio César, a replacement for suspended Artur, gifted the Germans the lead when, after blocking a shot by Son, he spilt the ball into the path of Kiessling for a simple finish. | Júlio César, a replacement for suspended Artur, gifted the Germans the lead when, after blocking a shot by Son, he spilt the ball into the path of Kiessling for a simple finish. |
| Son then scored one of his own in the 34th minute with Karim Bellarabi cutting into the penalty area and finding the Korean, who found the top corner from 12 metres. | Son then scored one of his own in the 34th minute with Karim Bellarabi cutting into the penalty area and finding the Korean, who found the top corner from 12 metres. |
| Calhanoglu hit the post from a metre out early in the second half with Leverkusen looking to kill the game off early. | Calhanoglu hit the post from a metre out early in the second half with Leverkusen looking to kill the game off early. |
| The Argentinian winger Salvio gave Benfica a glimmer of hope when he threaded a shot past Bernd Leno with their only shot on goal of the game. | |
| Kiessling was then brought down by Jardel for a penalty and Calhanoglu sent Júlio César the wrong way. | Kiessling was then brought down by Jardel for a penalty and Calhanoglu sent Júlio César the wrong way. |