Bayer Leverkusen secured its first win of the UEFA Champions League season with a 1-0 victory at Benfica on Wednesday. The result marked Benfica's fourth straight loss in the league phase under coach Jose Mourinho. Both teams entered the match among the bottom seven in the standings, seeking their initial points.
Benfica hosted Bayer Leverkusen at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on November 5, 2025, in a crucial UEFA Champions League league-phase encounter. The game kicked off at 3:00 p.m. EDT and was broadcast on CBS Sports Network, with streaming available on Fubo.
Both sides were winless entering the fixture, residing near the bottom of the 36-team standings. A victory was seen as pivotal for either club to revitalize their European campaigns. Benfica held a historical edge, having won two of their four previous meetings against Leverkusen, while the German side claimed one victory in the 2014 Champions League. Benfica's triumphs came in the Europa League.
Jose Mourinho's appointment at Benfica has brought domestic success but no European boost yet. The Portuguese side has been dominant in its league, but this loss extended their Champions League skid to four matches. Leverkusen, fifth in the Bundesliga under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, traveled without several key players: suspended midfielder Robert Andrich and injured stars Lucas Vazquez, Nathan Tella, and Malik Tillman. Benfica had fitness doubts over Bruma and Amar Dedic.
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Leverkusen, though specifics on the goal scorer were not detailed in reports. This result propelled Leverkusen up the table while deepening Benfica's struggles at the base of the standings.