Erik ten Hag starts with a heavy loss as Bayer Leverkusen beaten 5-1

Erik ten Hag's first match as Bayer Leverkusen manager ends in a heavy loss against Flamengo U20.

Erik ten Hag faces tough defeat as Bayer Leverkusen loses to Flamengo U20

Erik ten Hag began his tenure as Bayer Leverkusen manager with a disappointing 5-1 loss to Flamengo U20 in Rio de Janeiro. Leverkusen made history as the first Bundesliga club to have a pre-season tour in South America. Despite fielding a strong team, including new signing Victor Boniface, the match quickly turned sour. Flamengo took an early lead and scored four goals before halftime, with Leverkusen struggling to find their rhythm. Ten Hag tried to make adjustments, replacing several players early, but the score remained heavily against them. Montrell Culbreath managed to score a consolation goal for Leverkusen but overall it was a tough day for the new coach.

This heavy defeat raises critical questions about the state of Bayern Leverkusen under Erik ten Hag's leadership. His decision to start strong suggests he aimed to assert dominance, but the match exposed significant weaknesses. The loss indicates a challenging road ahead for ten Hag, who needs to quickly adapt and maximize his squad's potential.

Highlights

This result may put early pressure on ten Hag to turn things around quickly.