Champions League opener ends in 2-1 defeat

"It hurts but we have to get over it," said captain Lars Bender after the game. "If you let in two goals at this level then it becomes very difficult."

The evening started with a great atmosphere in Leverkusen. Bayer 04 had waited over two and half years for this moment: Just before 21.00 CET, the Champions League anthem rang out in the floodlit BayArena – goose bumps all round. "There is great anticipation," said Peter Bosz immediately before the kick-off. And not just for him.

Caught cold by Krychowiak

The Werkself, with Leon Bailey starting again in place of Nadiem Amiri following the defeat at Borussia Dortmund, were dominant from the start. Against a deep-lying Russian side, accurate moves were needed to create space – and that came for the Werkself on eight minutes: A good move via Julian Baumgartlinger and Charles Aránguiz ended with Kai Havertz having the ball and he tested the Lokomotiv keeper Guilherme for the first time. The visitors had hardly any possession in the opening 15 minutes but went ahead with their first attack of the game. That was preceded by a slip from the Werkself with their own throw-in that gave the ball to Joao Mario. The 2016 European champion picked out Krychowiak and the Pole slotted the ball past the helpless Lukas Hradecky to make it 1-0 on 16 minutes.

Aránguiz forces own goal

The Russians, who shortly after taking the lead had the opportunity to score a second goal with a double chance from Fedor Smolov and Rifat Zhemaletdinov (18’), were obviously helped by this early lead. They defended their own goal in a very compact manner so that a quick and seamless attack was required from the Black and Reds to get a goalscoring opportunity that this time led to success: Karim Bellarabi picked out Lars Bender on the right and his smart cut-back found Charles Aránguiz. The Chilean immediately shot at goal – and he was successful as the former Germany international Benedikt Höwedes deflected the ball into his own net on 25 minutes.

Hradecky blunder, Barinov scores

The equaliser did not make the Werkself game flow. There were too many mistakes in the build-up play that initially led to chances for Barinov (28’) and Krychowiak (29’) And finally to a second goal. Hradecky was unable to control a pass and played the ball to the feet of Barinov who reacted quickly and hit the ball into an empty net to make it 2-1 on 37 minutes. So it was back to the same game for Bayer 04: lots of possession and little space. An effective method in such games: set pieces. In added time in the first half Kevin Volland just missed heading a leveller from a corner.

Second-half display goes unrewarded

It was clear that nobody in Black and Red could be really happy with the first half – including Peter Bosz. The Dutchman reacted by bringing on Lucas Alario in place of Leon Bailey with Kevin Volland moving out to the left wing. The striker was immediately in the groove in this new position and he had the first shot on goal after the restart (48'). That was the start of a real power play by the Werkself: Havertz headed just over the target from six yards out (49'), a volley from Alario tested Guilherme (53'), a Volland free kick flew just past the top corner of the net (60’), a header from Havertz to Alario was cleared by the former Leverkusen player Vedran Corluka (61') and another Volland header found Guilherme in the right spot again (64'). There was great support from the stands and the players on the pitch pressed for the equaliser but the ball just wouldn't go in.

Peter Bosz made another attacking switch bringing on Amiri for Baumgartlinger. The aim in the closing stages was clear: all-out attack. Lokomotiv sat back with all eleven players on the edge of their own box and that didn't make the job any easier for Bayer 04. Shots now came from outside the box: Havertz hit a low drive just wide of the target (72'), Amiri put a free kick over the bar (79'), Guilherme parried a Bellarabi shot from a tight angle (81'). Anybody on the side of the Black and Reds was left pulling their hair out – particularly when the Lokomotiv keeper made a brilliant save to deny Amiri and the ball ended up at the feet of Havertz seconds later (88'). It was probably the last big chance to achieve a deserved 2-2 scoreline. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat.

The next Champions League fixture for the Werkself is away to Juventus on 1 October. The Italian champions started with a 2-2 draw away to Atletico Madrid. In the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 are at home to newly promoted Union Berlin on Saturday afternoon (15.30 CET).

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – L. Bender, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Baumgartlinger (Amiri 71'), Aránguiz – Bellarabi, Havertz, Bailey (Alario 46') – Volland

Lokomotiv Moscow: Guilherme - Ignatyev, Corluka, Höwedes, Rybus - Murilo - Barinov, Krychowiak - Zhemaletdinov, Joao Mario (Idowu 93') - Smolov

Goals: 0-1 Krychowiak (16’), 1-1 Höwedes (own goal, 25’), 1-2 Barinov (37’)

Referee: Paweł Raczkowski (Poland)

Booked: Aránguiz - Barinov

Attendance: 26,592