Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Bayer Leverkusen manager began with a stunning 5-1 defeat to Flamengo U20 in a pre-season friendly held in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, July 18, 2025. This humbling result marks a challenging start for the former Manchester United and Ajax boss, who officially took the reins at the Bundesliga champions on July 1, 2025, succeeding the highly successful Xabi Alonso.
Despite fielding a strong starting lineup that included Nigerian international Victor Boniface, new summer signing Mark Flekken from Brentford, 17-year-old Axel Tape, Arthur, Amine Adli, and captain Jonas Hofmann, Leverkusen found themselves overwhelmed by a Flamengo U20 side that is currently mid-season in their domestic league. The Brazilian youth team wasted no time, with Lorran opening the scoring in just the third minute after a rapid counter-attack. The lead doubled in the 11th minute when Leverkusen’s Arthur miscued a clearance, resulting in an unfortunate own goal. The situation worsened for Ten Hag’s side before the break, as Matheus Goncalves headed in a cross in the 40th minute, and Pedro Leao added a fourth in the 45th minute after a shot rebounded off the post, sending Flamengo U20 into halftime with a commanding 4-0 lead. Notably, Ten Hag made early substitutions, withdrawing Flekken and Boniface in the 36th minute.
The second half offered little respite, with Gusttavo extending Flamengo’s lead to 5-0 in the 55th minute following a menacing run. Around the hour mark, Ten Hag introduced a host of experienced players, making ten changes, including key figures like Granit Xhaka – who has been linked with a move to Sunderland – Edmund Tapsoba, Alex Grimaldo, Patrick Schick, and Nathan Tella. These changes brought some stability and attacking impetus, leading to a consolation goal for Leverkusen in the 71st minute, a tap-in from Germany U18 international Montrell Culbreath, making the final score 5-1. (Sky Sports, Bayer 04 Official Site, Bulinews)
It is crucial to contextualize this result. This was Leverkusen’s first pre-season fixture for the 2025/26 season, coming after a long flight to South America, while Flamengo U20 are in the midst of their competitive league season. The match, played at the 4,000-seated Estádio da Gávea, provided a vibrant atmosphere. For Ten Hag, this game served as an initial assessment of his squad and an opportunity to integrate new signings like Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane, who recently joined the training camp in Brazil. (Bayer 04 Official Site)
The pressure on Erik ten Hag is considerable, as he steps into the shoes of Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an historic, unbeaten Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal triumph in the 2023-24 season. That remarkable campaign also saw them reach the UEFA Europa League final, where their 51-game unbeaten streak across all competitions finally ended. While the 2024-25 season saw Leverkusen secure the DFL-Supercup, they ultimately relinquished the Bundesliga title, exited the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16, and were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the semi-finals. Alonso departed for Real Madrid on May 25, 2025, leaving Ten Hag with the challenging task of maintaining Leverkusen’s elite status and building on the high standards set. (Wikipedia)
While a 5-1 defeat is never ideal, especially for a new manager’s debut, this pre-season friendly offers Ten Hag valuable insights into his squad’s current state and the areas requiring immediate attention. The focus for Leverkusen will now shift to adapting to Ten Hag’s tactical philosophy and preparing rigorously for the demanding 2025/26 Bundesliga season, ensuring this early setback is merely a blip on their journey.
