Leverkusen, 11 December (HS): Alejandro Grimaldo struck an 88th-minute equaliser as Bayer Leverkusen held Newcastle United to a 2-2 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday, preventing the visitors from moving into the top eight positions that guarantee direct qualification for the round of 16. Newcastle remain two points outside the top eight with two matches to play, and sit one point ahead of Leverkusen, with both sides currently in the play-off zone.
Leverkusen opened the scoring after 13 minutes when a corner from Aleix Garcia reached captain Robert Andrich at the far post, whose header deflected off Bruno Guimaraes and into the net. Newcastle levelled early in the second half as Anthony Gordon converted a penalty following a mistake by goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who brought down Nick Woltemade inside the box.
Gordon then set up Lewis Miley for Newcastle’s second, the midfielder rising to head home in the 74th minute. Newcastle dropped deeper after taking the lead, allowing Leverkusen to build pressure in the closing stages. Grimaldo completed the comeback with a powerful finish from an Ibrahim Maza pass two minutes before full time.
Leverkusen were without coach Kasper Hjulmand, absent for personal reasons. Newcastle next host PSV Eindhoven before travelling to Paris Saint-Germain, while Leverkusen face Olympiacos and Villarreal in their remaining fixtures.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
