Bayer Leverkusen’s rising star, Francis Onyeka, marked his UEFA Champions League debut on Tuesday as the Black and Reds routed Salzburg 5-0 in a dominant performance at the BayArena.
The 17-year-old, who made his first appearance for Leverkusen in a 3-0 DFB-Pokal victory over Elversberg, has been steadily integrating with the first team.
After being included on the bench for UCL fixtures against Brest and Liverpool, Onyeka finally got his opportunity. With the team leading 5-0 in the 76th minute, manager Xabi Alonso introduced the youngster, allowing him to make his debut in a pressure-free environment.
Onyeka wasn’t the only teenage sensation to feature in the match; fellow 17-year-old talent Artem Stepanov also made his Champions League debut. Reflecting on their performances, Xabi Alonso remarked, “Every player needs a chance to showcase their abilities, and today was Francis and Artem’s moment. It was special for everyone, but especially for them.”
Discussing Onyeka’s potential, Alonso added, “He will likely be part of the squad against Union Berlin as well.”
At just 17 years, 6 months, and 28 days old, Onyeka has become Bayer Leverkusen’s third-youngest player to debut in the Champions League. Only Artem Stepanov (17 years, 3 months, 16 days) and Kai Havertz (17 years, 4 months, 22 days) were younger when they made their debuts.
While Onyeka’s debut signals a bright future, the night belonged to Florian Wirtz. The German star was in scintillating form, netting two goals, providing an assist, and earning the Man of the Match honor. His five goals in his first five Champions League games set a new record for a German player in the competition.
With this emphatic victory, equaling their largest in major European tournaments, Bayer Leverkusen now sits fifth in the Champions League standings with 10 points. Focus now shifts to the Bundesliga as they prepare for a crucial clash against Union Berlin, aiming to close the gap on league leaders Bayern Munich.
