Leverkusen’s win and Benfica’s 2-1 victory at Red Star Belgrade were the two early kickoffs on the third evening of the new Champions League format which replaces the traditional group stage. Now, 36 teams each play eight different opponents through January and are ranked in a single league table to decide which teams advance to the knockout phase.

In their return to the Champions League after a year away, Bayer Leverkusen compressively beat Feyenoord 4-0 in their opening game. Clincal. That is the best way to describe Leverkusen in the first

With little time between the Champions League game against Feyenoord and the Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg, coach Xabi Alonso's goal is to prepare his Bayer Leverkusen team both physically and mentally for the upcoming challenge.