Florian Wirtz made a stunning impact in his Champions League debut as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 4-0 victory against Feyenoord. The highly-touted young talent wasted no time, scoring two goals in less than five minutes to announce his arrival on the European stage.
Leverkusen, coming off a successful season where they clinched the Bundesliga and German Cup titles, showed their dominance once again with a commanding performance in Rotterdam. Wirtz's first goal came after a swift counter-attack initiated by Robert Andrich, leading to a clinical finish from the 21-year-old.
The German side extended their lead through Alejandro Grimaldo and another goal from Wirtz, who showcased his attacking prowess with a well-taken volley. Feyenoord's woes were compounded just before halftime when a goalkeeping error gifted Leverkusen their fourth goal, courtesy of Timon Wellenreuther's mistake.
Meanwhile, in other early kickoffs of the revamped Champions League format, Benfica secured a 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade, with goals from Kerem Aktürkoglu and Orkun Kökçü. Kökçü's exquisite free-kick from 25 yards highlighted Benfica's victory, while Felicio Milson's late strike provided a consolation for the home team.
The new league-style format of the Champions League, where teams face eight different opponents before advancing to the knockout phase, has added an intriguing dynamic to the competition. Leverkusen's impressive start bodes well for their campaign, while Wirtz's emergence as a key player further strengthens their prospects in Europe.
As the tournament progresses, football fans can look forward to more thrilling encounters, with top clubs like Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and others set to showcase their talents on the continental stage. The Champions League promises to deliver excitement and drama as teams vie for glory in one of the most prestigious competitions in world football.
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