Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal Highlights, Champions League: Havertz Rescues Draw For Lacklustre Gunners

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Arsenal’s trip to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are announced.

• Fixture: Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal

• Series: UEFA Champions League 2025-26

• Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen

• Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

• Time: 11:15 PM IST

The UEFA Champions League 2025-26 matches, including Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal, will be live-streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in India. There will be no television broadcast of the game.

Starting XI: Janis Blaswich; Robert Andrich (c), Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba; Ernest Poku, Exequiel Palacios, Aleix Garcia, Alejandro Grimaldo; Ibrahim Maza, Martin Terrier; Christian Kofane.

Bench: Jonas Omlin (gk), Niklas Lomb (gk), Tim Oermann, Ezequiel Fernandez, Malik Tillman, Jonas Hofmann, Montrell Culbreath, Patrik Schick.

Starting XI: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka (c), Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Viktor Gyokeres.

Bench: Kepa Arrizabalaga (gk), Khari Ranson (gk), Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marli Salmon, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Max Dowman, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz.

Top Scorers:

1. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): 13 goals in 8 matches

2. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle): 10 goals in 11 matches

3. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 8 goals in 8 matches

Top Assists:

1. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich): 7 assists in 9 matches

2. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid): 6 assists in 10 matches

3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid): 5 assists in 10 matches

Referee Halil Umut Meler blows his whistle to get the first half underway at BayArena, with Arsenal getting the ball rolling.

An early booking in the mach as Andrich sees his name taken by the referee for bringing down Gyokeres in front of the box. The Swedish striker's turn completely fooled the Leverkusen midfielder, who concedes a foul in a dangerous area.

Interestingly, it has been Lverkusen who have done most of the attacking in the early stages of the game, with Arsenal looking to build patiently from the back. Martinelli wins a free-kick after being caught late by Palacios, but the German side win back posession, with Mazza having a first-time shot from the edge of the box that fizzes over the crossbar.

That would have been some team goal from Arsenal!! The Gunners make their way into the Leverkusen box, with Eze finding Martinelli on the left. The Brazilian has a thunderous shot that hits the underside of the crossbar before ricocheting out.

Martinelli becomes the first Arsenal player to see yellow after pulling an opponent down. It has been an intensely physical battle so far – unlike what Arteta would have been planning for.

The Gunners have been patient in building up from the back, but the Leverkusen defence has held firm to keep Saka and co. fairly quiet in the opening half-an-hour or so. No real chances for either side yet.

Mazza has a go from 20 yards out after a sharp turn. It has a stinging shot, but the Leverkusen player could not keep it on target. Raya kicks it straight to touch from the goal-kick, and soon after, the half-time whistle is blown. Overall, it has been a half of very little quality, and both managers will have lots to talk about at the break.

Both sets of players are out on the pitch, and Leverkusen get the ball rolling for the second half. No change at the break for either side.

Barely a minute on the clock since the restart, and Andrich heads Leverkusen ahead!! Ironically, it came from a corner, with Grimaldo picking up the unmarked Andrich, and the midfielder leaped high and headed it past Raya to put the Gunners under pressure

The referee brings out another yellow card, this time for Poku for hacking down Martinelli. We are approaching the hour mark, and Arsenal have never looked like beating Blaswich. When will Arteta turn to the bench?

As was expected, Arteta turns to the substitutes bench, with Madueke replacing Saka. The Gunners captain has been quite possibly the worst player on the pitch for the visitors, with little to no impact tonight.

Arsenal have been much better on the attack since Madueke coming on. The winger floats in another cross from the flanks, but for the second time, Blaswich holds on to the ball. Meanwhile, Zubimendi gets booked by the referee for a bad tackle on Mazza.

With the clock ticking down, both sides opt for fresh legs. Leverkusen brings off Mazza, with Tillman taking his place in the midfield. Meanwhile, ex-Leverkusen player Havertz comes on for Arsenal in place of Gyokeres at the top.

With time on their side, Hjulmand makes a double change. Terrier and Palacios come off, with Fernandez and Hofmann taking their places. Meanwhile, Arsenal bring on an extra striker in Jesus, who replaces Eze.

Best chance of the night for Arsenal, as Martinelli finds Timber with a sweet cross into the box. The Dutchman jumps over everyone, but his header goes flying over the crossbar.

Penalty for Arsenal!! Madueke has been brilliant since coming on, and he makes a searing run into the box. Tilmann comes sliding in and gets the slightest bit of contact on Madueke's foot, who goes tumbling down. VAR confirms the referee's decision to award a penalty to the visitors.

Former Leverkusen hero Kai Havertz steps up to take the spot kick, and he makes no mistake with his shot, just about finding the bottom corner past the outstretched arms of Blaswich. The Gunners are level!

The referee blows his whistle, and it's all over at BayArena. Arsenal, despite being far from their best, rescue a draw away from home against a brilliant Leverkusen side. The Gunners even had the chance to win it in the death from a corner kick by Rice, but Arteta will happily take a draw to the Emirates next week.