Pep Guardiola marked his 100th Champions League match as Manchester City manager on November 26, 2025, with a sobering 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium—a result that exposed the risks of his bold squad rotation strategy. The Catalan tactician made 10 changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Newcastle three days prior, resting stars like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki in a bid to manage a congested fixture list. While the gamble aimed to preserve energy for upcoming Premier League clashes, it backfired spectacularly, leaving City disjointed and vulnerable. Alejandro Grimaldo’s rasping opener and Patrik Schick’s towering header sealed a deserved win for Xabi Alonso’s visitors, handing City their first home Champions League loss since 2021 and intensifying scrutiny on Guardiola’s approach amid a season of inconsistency.
Key Match Highlights
- Scoreline: Man City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen (HT 0-1)
- Leverkusen Goals: Grimaldo (38′), Schick (67′)
- Attendance: 52,355 (Etihad sell-out)
- Possession: City 68%—but 0 shots on target (Leverkusen 6/14)
- xG: City 1.1 vs Leverkusen 1.5
- City Form: 3 losses in 5 (all comps); 4th in PL (25 pts)
- Leverkusen Form: 7 wins in 8; 2nd Bundesliga (28 pts)
Guardiola’s rotation—his heaviest in UCL history—sparked debate, but Leverkusen’s clinical edge decided a contest City dominated statistically yet lost emphatically.
Guardiola’s Gamble: 10 Changes and a Costly Miscalculation
Guardiola’s rationale was pragmatic: A packed schedule—Newcastle loss November 23, Tottenham away November 30, and a Champions League trip to Real Madrid December 10—demanded squad management. “Long season—everyone involved,” he explained pre-match. “International break fatigue—rest key.”
Changes: 10 from Newcastle XI—Ederson, Dias, Stones, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland, Doku, Grealish benched. Debutants: Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, Savinho, Marmoush.
First half: Leverkusen’s Grimaldo rasped a 25-yard drive (38′, Ederson beaten)—City’s midfield sluggish, passes misplaced.
HT: 0-1. Guardiola: “First 30 mins good—conceded, no rhythm.”
Second: Schick towered for header (67′, Tapsoba corner)—City’s response? 0 shots on target. Late Haaland/Foden subs: Too little, too late.
Guardiola (TNT): “Accept it—maybe too much rotation. They tried, but blocked every shot, slipped 10 times. Take responsibility—missed opportunity.”
Hjulmand (Leverkusen): “Normal rotation 5.5—10 shocked. But quality always.”
Brown (5 Live): “Lift for away side—belief given.”
Leverkusen’s Clinical Edge: Grimaldo and Schick Shine
Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga leaders (28 pts, 2nd) exploited City’s chaos. Grimaldo’s thunderbolt (38′)—first UCL goal—curled beyond Ederson. Schick (67′) rose highest for Tapsoba corner—clinical.
Leverkusen: 6/14 shots on target; xG 1.5. Alonso: “Courage, calm—character showed. Huge win—fuel development.”
Grimaldo: “Special—team belief won.”
Schick: “Opportunistic—perfect delivery.”
City: 68% possession, 1.1 xG—disjointed, no penetration.
Guardiola’s Rotation Philosophy: Long-Term Vision or Short-Term Risk?
Guardiola’s UCL tenure: 100 games (English club record, behind Ferguson/Wenger). 2025: 2 wins, 3 losses—more “disappointments” than triumphs (his words).
Pre-match: “Belief in long season—involve everyone. Post-break fatigue.”
But 10 changes: “Too nice?” (Guardiola). City: 0 UCL home loss since 2021 (PSG).
Hjulmand: “No matter who—quality team.”
Guardiola: “If win, no problem—accept too much. Not perfect to win big.”
City’s schedule: Tottenham (A, Nov 30), Real Madrid (H, Dec 10)—rotation gamble backfires.
Bigger Picture: City’s UCL Woes and PL Pressure
City: 4th PL (25 pts, 7 behind Arsenal); 3 losses in 5 (all comps).
UCL Group H: 3 pts (8th); last-16 play-off risk.
Guardiola: “Fight next—missed incredible opportunity.”
Alonso: “Character—3 points huge.”
Brown: “Rotation gave lift—expect routine? No.”
City’s 2025 UCL: 2 wins, 3 losses—worst start since 2018/19.
Verdict: Rotation Risk Bites – City’s UCL Fightback Starts Now
Man City 0-2 Leverkusen: Guardiola’s 100th UCL milestone marred by gamble gone wrong.
10 changes: “Too much”—disjointed display punished.
Leverkusen clinical; City fight next—Real Madrid looms.
