Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle: NEW denied huge win as Grimaldo scores late equaliser

Alex Grimaldo netted late on to deny Newcastle a Champions League comeback victory at Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-2 draw at the BayArena.

Match Report

Alex Grimaldo netted late on to deny Newcastle a Champions League comeback victory at Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-2 draw at the BayArena.

Newcastle thought they had earned the perfect smash-and-grab turnaround when Lewis Miley made history for his boyhood club, becoming their youngest Champions League goalscorer at 19 with a second-half header.

Miley's goal, perfectly set up by the scorer of Newcastle's second-half leveller, Anthony Gordon, promised to bring Newcastle's away-day woes to an end but an impressive Leverkusen had different ideas.

"I actually don't know [why they are letting in so many late goals], I don't know if it's fatigue with all the games coming up, we're getting a bit tired late on in games, I'm not too sure, but I think it all comes back to mentality."

Off the back of beating Manchester City comprehensively in the last round of fixtures, the Bundesliga side eyed another English scalp when they took the lead in the 13th minute. Robert Andrich's header was deflected into his own net by Newcastle skipper Bruno Guimaraes.

Leverkusen were nearly gifted an opportunity for a second when Malick Thiaw brought down Patrick Schick just outside the area. VAR intervened to check whether the challenge merited a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity; however, the original yellow card decision stood.

As they got away with one at the other end, in the second half, Newcastle couldn't believe their luck when Mark Flekken's reluctance on the ball resulted in him bringing down an enthusiastic Nick Woltemade in the box. Gordon stepped up, sending the former Brentford keeper the wrong way with his fifth Champions League goal of the campaign.

Newcastle then enjoyed their best spell with Gordon hitting the post in search of a second. Miley, off the bench, then found what Newcastle needed to improve their bid for a top-eight finish.

But Grimaldo had different ideas, firing past an onrushing Aaron Ramsdale to level proceedings in the 88th minute. Newcastle chased a third but Flekken's later stop to keep out Thiaw meant that Howe's side had to settle for a point.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

13' OWN GOAL! Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle (Bruno Guimarães)

21' Match Event for Leverkusen vs Newcastle

36' Match Event for Leverkusen vs Newcastle

51' Penalty Goal! Leverkusen 1-1 Newcastle (Anthony Gordon)

62' Highlight from Leverkusen vs Newcastle

74' GOAL! Leverkusen 1-2 Newcastle (Lewis Miley)

88' GOAL! Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle (Alejandro Grimaldo)

Line-ups

Leverkusen XI: Grimaldo, Mark Flekken, Andrich, Schick, A.García, Tapsoba, Malik Tillman, Quansah, Ernest Poku, Arthur, Ibrahim Maza

Subs: Janis Blaswich, Lomb, Tella, Loïc Badé, Belocian, Echeverri, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Axel Tape, Christian Kofane

Newcastle XI: Burn, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Ramsdale, Barnes, Tonali, Gordon, Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade, Lewis Hall

Subs: Schar, Yoane Wissa, J.Murphy, Willock, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Alex Murphy, Max Thompson, Lewis Miley, Adam Harrison