Žan-Luk Leban made seven saves and still ended up on the losing side. The Celje goalkeeper was the visitors’ best player by a distance at BayArena on Wednesday, but even his efforts could not prevent Bayer Leverkusen from opening their UEFA Europa League campaign with a controlled 2-0 victory. A Svit Sešlar own goal in the 15th minute put Leverkusen in front, and Facundo Medina settled it with a 74th-minute finish to give the German side three points from their opening league-stage fixture, according to flashscore.com.
Key Moments
- 15′, Own goal: Svit Sešlar turns the ball into his own net to give Leverkusen the lead. No assist recorded.
- 60′, Leverkusen’s first substitution: Lucas Vázquez comes off, replaced by Jarell Quansah at right back.
- 61′, Double change for Leverkusen: Martin Terrier and Malik Tillman both withdrawn, Afonso Moreira and Ezequiel Fernández come on.
- 74′, Second goal: Facundo Medina converts with Aleix García picking up the assist, doubling Leverkusen’s lead and putting the game beyond Celje.
- 80′, Moussa Diaby is replaced by Eliesse Ben Seghir as Leverkusen manage down the clock.
Tactical Breakdown
Leverkusen set up in a 4-2-3-1 and controlled proceedings without ever moving through the gears. They finished with 56% possession, 17 total shots and an xG of 1.93, comfortably above what their two-goal return required. Eight shots on target kept Leban busy throughout, and the Slovenian side rarely had the ball long enough to threaten in open play. Celje managed just five shots, three on target, and an xG of 0.90 that flatters what was a largely contained performance.
The game was effectively over as a contest once Medina headed home on 74 minutes. Aleix García, who played all 90 minutes in the double pivot alongside Robert Andrich, delivered the assist and was one of Leverkusen’s more consistent presences in midfield. The triple substitution at 61 minutes, bringing on Moreira, Fernández and Quansah, allowed Leverkusen to adjust the tempo and manage energy across the squad without disrupting the result.
Celje sat deep and tried to absorb pressure, but the own goal at 15 minutes forced them to chase the game earlier than their shape allowed. Their passing accuracy (88%) matched Leverkusen’s on paper, but with 500 passes to the home side’s 619, the volume differential tells the real story. They had moments on the counter but lacked the final ball to seriously test Mark Flekken, who nonetheless made three saves to keep the clean sheet.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Leverkusen got exactly what they needed from their UEFA Europa League opener: a clean sheet, three points and a relatively straightforward 90 minutes that allowed Carles Martinez to rotate freely in the second half. Celje leave BayArena without a point but with their goalkeeper’s performance as a reminder of what they can rely on as the league stage continues.
Bayer Leverkusen
Celje
Aleix García
Facundo Medina
Žan-Luk Leban