Brest hold German champions Leverkusen to Champions League stalemate

Florian Wirtz scored the opener in Bayer Leverkusen's 1-1 draw in Brest, western France, on October 23, 2024.

A superb goal by Pierre Lees-Melou helped newcomers Brest to a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday as both teams maintained their unbeaten run in the Champions League.

Bayer Leverkusen were held to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Germany starlet Florian Wirtz netting for the visitors.

A third goal in three outings in the competition for Wirtz handed Leverkusen the advantage, but Pierre Lees-Melou crashed home a volley to level matters in the first period.

Both sides went into the match with 100 percent records from their two outings so far in the league phase.

"I think a lot of people thought we were going to be on the end of a hammering before kick-off," Brest's Lees-Melou told Canal+.

"But we certainly didn't embarrass ourselves. It proves that we're a team that has heart, that plays together," he added.

Wirtz, 21, sent the Bundesliga champions into a 24th-minute lead with an arrowed finish from 20 yards.

Wirtz nearly doubled up on 29 minutes but could only muster a tame effort at goal after dancing his way through three defenders on the edge of the box.

But it was Brest who struck next when a looping ball dropped to Lees-Melou on the edge of the box and the midfielder lashed a volley into the bottom corner six minutes before the interval.

Both sides fought for the upper hand in the second half, with Brest surviving desperate Leverkusen appeals for a penalty after the hour when Jonas Hofmann's cross struck a hand but it was adjudged to be in a natural position.


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

Read also:
Flat PSG held to home draw against PSV in Champions League
Arsenal beat PSG, Dortmund demolish Celtic in Champions League rout
PSG's Dembele axed for Arsenal game over disciplinary reasons