Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United Player Ratings: Grimaldo's Late Equaliser in a 2-2 Thriller

What a spectacle at the BayArena. This Champions League encounter was a rollercoaster of emotions, ending in a dramatic 2-2 draw between Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United. The game twisted and turned, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats until the very end. This match had everything.

Bayer Leverkusen took an early lead through a calamitous own goal from Bruno Guimarães. It felt like a moment that could have shattered Newcastle's spirit. But they fought back with incredible tenacity. A penalty, coolly dispatched by Anthony Gordon, leveled the proceedings before halftime, completely changing the complexion of the game. It was a deserved reward for their persistence.

The second half saw Newcastle's substitute Lewis Miley score a go-ahead goal that seemed destined to be the winner. However, this Leverkusen side just doesn't know when it's beaten. A stunning late strike from the ever-reliable Alejandro Grimaldo broke Geordie hearts and secured a point for the home side. It was a frantic, end-to-end affair that ultimately saw both teams share the spoils in a memorable European night. Here are Sportsdunia's Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle player ratings:

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Check out the Bayer Leverkusen player ratings for the Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle fixture.

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 5.5: A very difficult evening for the Leverkusen keeper. He made four saves, with a couple being quite decent stops. However, he completely undid his good work by conceding the penalty with a clumsy foul on Nick Woltemade. That moment of madness and the yellow card that followed puts a huge damper on his performance. From our perspective, he looked a bit shaky and lost composure at a critical moment.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 6.0: A quiet and somewhat nervy performance. He was neat on the ball with an 88% pass accuracy but didn't impose himself defensively, winning only one of his two duels. He was part of a backline that looked vulnerable when Newcastle pushed forward. We noticed he was a bit passive at times. Not a disaster, but not his most commanding display.

Robert Andrich - 6.5: The captain led from the back and was a vocal presence. He was solid in the air, winning three aerial duels, and made six important clearances. His passing was reliable, but the defense still conceded twice and looked disorganized for Newcastle's second goal. A mixed bag for the skipper, who tried his best to hold things together.

Edmond Tapsoba - 7.0: Probably the most composed of the back three. He had a massive 81 touches and distributed the ball well, even getting forward to support the attack. With five clearances and eight ball recoveries, his stats show a busy and effective night. He was a steadying influence when things got chaotic around him.

Midfielders

Arthur - 5.5: A performance to forget for Arthur on the flank. He struggled to make any real impact on the game, losing possession 11 times from just 42 touches. Defensively, he was caught out a few times and offered little going forward. It was no surprise to see him substituted late in the game.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 8.5: What a player. When his team needed him most, he delivered with a sensational late goal to salvage a point. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat, creating four chances and putting in a real defensive shift with three tackles. He was everywhere, and his quality shone through. The undisputed man of the match in our eyes.

Aleix García - 7.5: The metronome in midfield. He controlled the tempo with an incredible 94 touches and a 94% pass completion rate. He was the calm head in the center of the park, always available and recycling possession intelligently. While not flashy, his contribution was vital to how Leverkusen played, and he also chipped in with three interceptions.

Ibrahim Maza - 8.0: A fantastic creative display. Maza was a livewire, successfully completing all three of his dribble attempts and creating two chances, including the crucial assist for Grimaldo's equaliser. He was a thorn in Newcastle's side, drawing fouls and driving his team forward with purpose and skill. A really exciting performance to watch.

Forwards

Malik Tillman - 6.5: Showed some nice touches and created two key passes before being substituted. He linked up play well at times but drifted out of the game for periods. He wasn't able to provide a decisive goal or assist, but it was a decent enough shift without being spectacular.

Patrik Schick - 6.0: His night was unfortunately cut short by injury just before halftime. In his 46 minutes, he was a handful, drawing fouls and winning the penalty that unfortunately wasn't given as a goal. He looked sharp and his presence was missed in the second half. It's tough to rate him higher given the limited time on the pitch.

Ernest Poku - 6.0: A frustrating evening for Poku. He got into some dangerous positions and had a fierce shot well-saved by Ramsdale. However, he was also wasteful, losing possession 13 times and picking up a yellow card. The effort was there, but the final product was lacking.

Substitutes

Christian Kofane - 6.5: Came on for Schick and offered a different kind of threat. He had a couple of decent efforts on goal but couldn't find the back of the net. He was active and made himself a nuisance.

Nathan Tella - 7.0: Made a real impact after coming on. He forced two excellent saves from Ramsdale and looked incredibly dangerous with his pace and direct running. A very bright cameo.

Claudio Echeverri - N/A: Came on too late to make a significant impact.

Loïc Badé - N/A: A late defensive change to see out the draw.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 7.0: His side showed great character to fight back for the draw. The substitutions, particularly Tella, added a new dimension to the attack. While the defensive structure looked shaky, he'll be pleased with the spirit his team showed to grab a point at the death.

Newcastle Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen

Check out the Newcastle player ratings for the Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle fixture.

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale - 8.0: A superb performance from Ramsdale, who was incredibly busy. He made six saves, several of which were top-class stops to keep his team in the game, especially in the frantic final stages. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but his shot-stopping was excellent. The late yellow was a bit silly, but he was a huge reason Newcastle almost won.

Defenders

Lewis Hall - 6.5: A solid outing for the young defender. He was tidy in possession and contributed to the attack with a key pass. Defensively, he made three interceptions and two tackles. He was part of a defence that conceded twice, but he held his own for the most part and showed good composure.

Malick Thiaw - 6.0: A very mixed performance. He made an astounding nine clearances which shows how much pressure Newcastle were under. However, he also got a yellow card and missed a great chance late on. He struggled against Leverkusen's fluid attack at times but was also responsible for some last-ditch defending.

Tino Livramento - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular game from Livramento. He made five clearances and was generally reliable at the back. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but he did his defensive duties without much fuss. Lost possession quite a few times which was a blemish on his night.

Dan Burn - 7.0: A warrior-like performance from Big Dan Burn. He won an impressive six out of eight duels, including three aerial battles. He made six clearances and three tackles, throwing himself into every challenge. His commitment was undeniable, and he was a rock at the back for large spells of the game.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 6.0: Was having a decent game, battling hard in midfield before his evening was cruelly ended by injury. He missed a decent headed chance but was providing his usual physical presence. His departure was a blow for Newcastle's midfield structure.

Sandro Tonali - 7.0: A classy and composed performance in the middle. He created two chances and was very secure on the ball with 87% pass accuracy. He also did his defensive work, making three tackles and recovering the ball five times. Tonali looked at home on the big stage, linking play and breaking up attacks effectively.

Bruno Guimarães - 6.0: One of the strangest performances you'll see. The own goal was a moment of pure misfortune that put his team under immediate pressure. But what stood out to us was his response; he didn't hide. He went on to create a staggering five chances, a testament to his creative quality. The own goal drags his rating down significantly, but his attacking contribution was immense.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 8.5: Newcastle's best player on the night. He was electric. He showed nerves of steel to score the penalty, provided a brilliant assist for Miley's goal, and was desperately unlucky to hit the post. His direct running caused problems all evening. A phenomenal, all-action performance that deserved to be on the winning side. Right up there with Grimaldo for man of the match.

Harvey Barnes - 6.5: Looked dangerous in the first half and forced two good saves from Flekken. He was always looking to get in behind and his movement was sharp. Faded a little as the game went on before being substituted, but a positive contribution overall.

Nick Woltemade - 7.0: Didn't get on the scoresheet, but his contribution was massive. He did brilliantly to win the penalty with his clever movement in the box. He was a physical presence up front, winning four duels and drawing fouls. Though he missed a couple of chances, winning the penalty was a game-changing moment.

Substitutes

Lewis Miley - 7.5: What an impact! Came on for the injured Joelinton and scored what looked to be the winning goal with a well-taken header. A dream Champions League moment for the youngster. A game-changing substitution.

Jacob Murphy - 6.5: Was unlucky not to score, hitting the post with a shot from distance shortly after coming on. Looked lively and added energy to the attack.

Jacob Ramsey - N/A: Brought on late to help see the game out.

Yoane Wissa - N/A: A very late substitution with little time to influence the match.

Manager

E. Howe - 7.5: We thought his game management was excellent. His side responded brilliantly to the early setback of the own goal. The substitution of Lewis Miley was a masterstroke that almost won them the game. To come away from home against a top side and be seconds from victory is a credit to his tactics and the team's belief.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Alejandro Grimaldo