Overview
- Bayer Leverkusen won 2–0 at the Etihad through goals from Alejandro Grimaldo (23') and Patrik Schick (54') as goalkeeper Mark Flekken produced key saves.
- Manchester City started with ten changes and Erling Haaland on the bench before his late introduction, and Guardiola later took responsibility for the selection in his 100th Champions League match with City.
- Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 4–0 with a brace from Serhou Guirassy plus goals by Karim Adeyemi and Daniel Svensson after the hosts had struggled for fluency early.
- A VAR review identified a handball on the goal line by Juan Foyth, resulting in a penalty and straight red card that shifted control to Dortmund.
- Under the expanded league-phase format, Leverkusen moved to eight points and Dortmund to ten, with both German clubs now turning to back-to-back meetings in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.