Arsenal Salvage Champions League Draw Against Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen, Germany – A late penalty converted by Kai Havertz secured a 1-1 draw for Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Match Summary

The match, played before a sold-out crowd of 30,210, saw a tightly contested first half with few clear-cut chances. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute, striking the crossbar with a curling effort. Bayer Leverkusen responded with a shot from García that narrowly missed the post.

The breakthrough came shortly after halftime, with Robert Andrich heading home a corner delivered by Alejandro Grimaldo in the 46th minute, giving Leverkusen the lead.

Arsenal pressed for an equalizer and their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute when Noni Madueke was brought down in the penalty area by Malik Tillman. Havertz, returning to his former club, calmly slotted the penalty past goalkeeper Lukas Blaswich to level the score.

Key Moments

• 20th Minute: Martinelli hits the crossbar for Arsenal.
• 46th Minute: Andrich scores for Bayer Leverkusen.
• 89th Minute: Havertz converts a penalty for Arsenal.

Statistics

Possession: 43% (Bayer Leverkusen) : 57% (Arsenal)

Shots on Goal: 3 (Bayer Leverkusen) : 2 (Arsenal)

Shots off Goal: 4 (Bayer Leverkusen) : 3 (Arsenal)

Corners: 2 (Bayer Leverkusen) : 3 (Arsenal)

Offsides: 0 (Bayer Leverkusen) : 1 (Arsenal)

Fouls: 9 (Bayer Leverkusen) : 10 (Arsenal)

Discipline

Bayer Leverkusen: Robert Andrich (26′), Poku (58′), Palacios (63′), Grimaldo (90+4′)

Arsenal: Martinelli (26′), Havertz (90+4′)

Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen: Blaswich, Quansah, Andrich (C), Tapsoba, Poku, Palacios, García, Grimaldo, Terrier, Maza, Kofane.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Magalhães, Hincapié, Rice, Zubimendi, Saka (C), Eze, Martinelli, Gyökeres.

What’s Next?

The second leg will be played at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will look to capitalize on their away goal and secure a place in the quarter-finals. The date for the second leg has not yet been announced.