Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal Player Ratings: Malik Tillman's Brace Secures a Commanding Win for Die Werkself at Home

A statement performance from Bayer 04 Leverkusen as they completely dominated Villarreal from the first whistle to the last. The 3-0 scoreline honestly doesn't flatter them enough, as it was a masterclass in possession-based football played at a high tempo.

Leverkusen's midfield was just on another level tonight. They controlled the entire flow of the match, pinning Villarreal back for most of the time. The breakthrough felt inevitable, and it came early through Malik Tillman in the 15th minute.

His first goal was a poacher's finish, and his second from outside the box in the 35th minute reeked of pure quality. Alejandro Grimaldo added a third just three minutes before the hour mark to seal a comprehensive win in this UEFA Champions League encounter.

Villarreal had no answers. They were chasing shadows for most of the game, as they have done throughout this tournament.

Below are the Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Villarreal Player Ratings. Check them out.

Key Takeaways

• Leverkusen were the better of the two sides, with better possession, shot accuracy, and chance creation.
• Mark Tilman opened the scoring and went on to double the lead shortly after.
• Alejandro Grimado put the final nail in the coffin with the third goal for his team.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Here are the Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings from the Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Villarreal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 7.0: Had a very quiet evening overall. He was barely tested by the opposition. Made two comfortable saves when required. His distribution from the back was tidy and accurate. He commanded his area well on the rare occasions he needed to.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 7.5: Looked incredibly composed on the ball. He completed 90% of his passes. What stood out to us was his ability to step out of defense. He even created a chance with a key pass. Defensively, he was solid and untroubled.

Loïc Badé - 8.0: A rock at the back for his team. He won a remarkable seven duels. He was not just defending, though. He pushed forward and even forced a good save from the keeper. A complete performance from the center-back.

Robert Andrich - 7.0: The captain led by example. He was calm and organized the backline perfectly. His positioning was excellent, making two key interceptions. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from him.

Midfielders

Ezequiel Fernández - 8.5: Absolutely ran the show from midfield. His stats are incredible with 110 passes at 96% accuracy. He was the engine of the team recovering the ball eight times. From our perspective he was the conductor of this orchestra.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 9.0: A sensational performance capped with a well-taken goal. He had an incredible 131 touches, showing his constant involvement. He was a menace down the left flank all night. Defensively, he won eight duels which was impressive.

Lucas Vázquez - 7.5: Provided a brilliant assist for the third goal. He was a livewire on the wing for the 62 minutes he played. His direct running caused lots of problems. A very effective and impactful display.

Aleix García - 8.0: Another midfield maestro for Leverkusen. Kept possession ticking over with near-perfect passing. He moved the ball into the final third consistently. What stood out to us was his work rate and intelligence.

Forwards

Malik Tillman - 9.5: The clear man of the match and our highest-rated player. Two goals showcased his superb finishing ability. He was a constant threat to the Villarreal backline. He won seven duels and drew four fouls. An outstanding and dominant attacking performance.

Patrik Schick - 7.0: A clever performance from the striker. He provided a smart headed assist for Tillman's second. He did miss a big chance which he'll be annoyed about. But his movement and link-up play were crucial.

Ibrahim Maza - 8.0: So unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself. He hit the woodwork with a great effort. His creativity was on full display with five successful dribbles. He was a joy to watch and a nightmare for defenders.

Substitutes

Christian Kofane - 6.5: Came on and looked busy. Arthur - 6.5: Slotted in well. Exequiel Palacios - 7.0: Kept the midfield dominance going. Ernest Poku - 6.5: Forced a save with a good shot. Edmond Tapsoba - N/A: Came on too late to rate.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 8.5: His tactics were absolutely spot on. The team was set up to dominate and they executed the plan perfectly. His players looked well-drilled and hungry. A flawless managerial performance.

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Here are the Villarreal Player Ratings from the Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Villarreal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Arnau Tenas - 6.0: A difficult night for the keeper. He made four saves, preventing a bigger defeat. However, his error leading to a goal was a major black mark. He looked shaky under pressure from the home side.

Defenders

Rafa Marín - 5.5: He really struggled against Leverkusen's fluid attack. He picked up a yellow card and was part of a defence that conceded three. He looked out of his depth for large parts of the game. A night to forget for him.

Renato Veiga - 6.0: Was busy all night, making six clearances and five interceptions. Despite his efforts, the defence was carved open too easily. He fought hard, but it was a losing battle against a superior opponent. He was dribbled past too easily.

Sergi Cardona - 5.5: Had a torrid time defensively. He was dribbled past four times. He struggled to contain the attacks on his flank. While he made some recoveries, his overall defensive contribution was poor.

Pau Navarro - 5.5: Another defender who had a tough outing. He was booked for a clumsy challenge. He was beaten three times by dribblers. From our perspective, he just couldn't cope with the pace and movement.

Midfielders

Santi Comesaña - 5.0: A really poor performance from the captain. He was overrun in midfield. His two errors leading to shots put his team under pressure. He lost possession cheaply and couldn't get a grip on the game. Our worst performer.

Thomas Partey - 5.0: Completely anonymous in the first half. He was substituted at the break after offering nothing. He looked off the pace and failed to make any impact. A very disappointing showing.

Tajon Buchanan - 5.0: Just like Partey, he was hooked at halftime. He was ineffective on the ball and offered little defensive cover. He lost the ball too often. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Alassane Diatta - 6.0: He worked hard during his time on the pitch. He made a few tackles and recoveries. However, he was part of a midfield that was completely dominated. It was a thankless task for him.

Forwards

Nicolas Pépé - 6.0: Looked like one of the few who might create something. But he was often frustrated, losing possession 13 times. He got booked for simulation which summed up his night. He tried, but with little end product.

Tani Oluwaseyi - 6.0: A very isolated figure up front. He received very little service from his teammates. He worked hard and won a few headers. But he never looked like scoring.

Substitutes

Georges Mikautadze - 6.0: Came on but couldn't change the game. Hugo Lopez - 6.0: Tried to add some energy. Dani Parejo - 6.0: Brought on to add experience, but the game was already lost. Daniel Budesca - N/A. Pape Gueye - N/A.

Manager

M. García Toral - 5.0: His team was thoroughly outplayed and out-thought. The initial game plan was wrong. The halftime substitutions made no difference. He had no answer to Leverkusen's dominance.

Man of the Match

The man of the match in the Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Villarreal fixture was Leverkusen's Malik Tilman.

Worst Performer

Santi Comesaña of Villarreal was the worst performer on the pitch in this game.