Youth League – U19s lose at Atletico

Match action: The two teams tested each other out for the first ten minutes in light rain and then the game took off. When the Bayer 04 defence was caught out by a long ball over the top, goalkeeper Marcel Lotka was on hand to save from Salido on nine minutes. At the other end, the Atletico keeper Saldana kept out a free kick from Fabian Ruth (11') and held on to an effort from Christopher Scott (12'). Bayer 04 were very solid at the back but at the end of the first half they conceded two good chances to the Spanish side. Lotka pulled off a great save to deny Salido on 38 minutes and then saved a shot from Riquelme on 41 minutes.

Atletico increased their offensive efforts after the restart and succeeded in pinning the visitors back. Lotka pulled off another brilliant save to keep out Salido and, along with his defenders, he was lucky that the shot on the rebound from Riquelme went just over the bar (59'). Bayer 04 were now very passive and unable to break out. Another Riquelme shot hit the side netting and his next effort from a promising position went wide of the target (75'). An Atletico corner finally broke the deadlock with a volley from Marco Moreno opening the scoring (79'). The ball was in the Leverkusen net for a second time minutes later. 2-0 on 82 minutes. UEFA determined it was an own goal from Kevin Bukusu.

Current situation: It is not looking good with half of the six group matches gone. Bayer 04 are bottom the table on one point and have little chance of finishing second. Juventus and Atletico both have six points. However, as Juve lost to Lokomotiv Moscow at home (1-2) the Russians now have three more points than Leverkusen

Next games: The Bayer 04 U19s are back in action in the West group of the U19 Bundesliga on Sunday 27 October when VfL Bochum visit the Haberland Stadium. The match kicks off at 11.00 CET and entrance is free. The next match in the Youth League follows with the return match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday 6 November with a 14.00 CET kick-off at the Haberland Stadium.

Match stats:

Atletico Madrid U19: Saldana – Cova Urbina, Moreno, Lama Maroto, Medrano – Oscar Castro – Gutierrez Ramirez (Ajenjo Hyek 67'), Riquelme (Quintana 82’) Soto Maldonado (Nunez Mata 90+2’), Teguia (Recio Ortega 90+2’) – Salido (Tenas Urena 67’)

Bayer 04 U19: Lotka – Gaedicke, Rüth, Bukusu, Kemper – Wolf, Azhil, Stanilewicz, Anapak-Baka (86. Schlösser) – Fesenmeyer (Sarpei 46’), Scott

Goals: 1-0 Moreno (76’), 2-0 Bukusu (o.g. 82’)

Booked:

Referee: Alain Durieux (Luxemburg)