Newcastle United let a valuable victory slip away in their Champions League trip to the Bayer Leverkusen BayArena, settling for a 2–2 draw after a dramatic late equaliser from Alejandro Grimaldo in the 88th minute.

Leverkusen struck early. Following a corner delivery, Robert Andrich rose highest to head the ball goalwards, with a deflection off Bruno Guimarães wrong-footing the keeper and putting the hosts 1–0 up. The Bundesliga leaders could have doubled their advantage, but Aaron Ramsdale denied a dangerous effort from Ibrahim Maza before producing another big save to stop a powerful strike from Jarell Quansah just before halftime.

Right after the restart, Newcastle found their way back into the match. Nick Woltemade challenged Mark Flekken inside the box, and the goalkeeper brought him down — leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Anthony Gordon stepped up and converted with confidence to level the score. The goal energised the visitors, and by the 74th minute they were in front when young midfielder Lewis Miley expertly headed home a pinpoint cross.

But Leverkusen had one final push. In the 88th minute, Grimaldo cleverly let the ball run to spark the attack, then finished the move himself with a precise strike, rescuing a point for the home side and denying Newcastle a much-needed win.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Bayer 04 - Newcastle United 2:2 (1:0)
Goals: Bruno Guimarães, 13 (own goal) (1:0); Gordon A., 51 (penalty) (1:1); Miley, 74 (1:2); Grimaldo, 88 (2:2)

Bayer 04: Flekken; Quansah; Tapsoba E.; Arthur Soares (Badé L., 90); Grimaldo; Andrich; Aleix Garcia; Maza; Tillman M. (Echeverri, 85); Schick (Kofane, 46); Poku E. (Tella, 71)
Substitution: Kofane (from 46); Tella (from 71); Echeverri (from 85); Badé L. (from 90)
Bench: Blaswich; Lomb; Tape; Belocian; Ben Seghir
Yellow Cards: Poku E. 47; Aleix Garcia 50

Newcastle United: Ramsdale; Livramento; Burn; Hall; Tonali; Barnes H. (Murphy J-b, 78); Thiaw; Bruno Guimarães; Joelinton (Miley, 60); Gordon A. (Ramsey J., 93); Woltemade (Wissa Y., 93)
Substitution: Miley (from 60); Murphy J-b (from 78); Ramsey J. (from 93); Wissa Y. (from 93)
Bench: Schär; Murphy Alex; Willock; Elanga
Yellow Cards: Thiaw 21; Ramsdale 83