Patrik Schick came off the bench and scored two first-half penalties as Bayer Leverkusen beat Lech Poznan 4-0 in the Europa League. Malik Tillman and Ibrahim Maza also scored as the visitors made it two wins from two and left the Polish champions pointless.
Poznan, Poland: Leverkusen did most of their damage in a twelve-minute burst before the interval, and a match that began with injuries on both sides ended with the home crowd watching a second 4-0 defeat in as many league-phase games. For Lech, the champions of Poland, the Europa League league phase is already an uphill climb.
An early injury hands Schick his chance
Leverkusen made six changes to their starting line-up, and the plan took a jolt in the 18th minute when Martin Terrier went off injured. Schick replaced him. Lech had lost Wojciech Monka as early as the 15th minute, and Terry Yegbe came on in his place.
It was Yegbe who gave the visitors their opening. Maza’s long-range shot struck his hand, and after a VAR check the penalty stood. Schick put it away in the 29th minute.
Three goals in twelve minutes
The second arrived three minutes later. Lech goalkeeper Mateusz Lis parried a shot from Nathan Tella, and Tillman forced the rebound over the line to make it 2-0. Schick then added his second penalty in the 41st minute after Mateusz Skrzypczak fouled him at a corner, and the contest was effectively over by half-time.
Leverkusen coach Carles Martinez said afterwards that the game had been a pleasure for the fans but less enjoyable for him on the touchline, and that he was especially pleased with the second-half performance.
Maza ends it late
The second half was slower. Afonso Moreira was denied three times, but he finally provided the pass for Maza, who scored in the 89th minute to complete the 4-0 result.
What it means
Leverkusen had already won 2-0 at home to Celje on matchday one, and they now sit on six points. Lech, who also lost 4-0 at Crystal Palace in their opener, have no points and a goal difference of minus eight. Niels Frederiksen’s side had arrived in the league phase after being knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Aarhus on penalties, and had beaten Slask Wroclaw 4-1 in the Polish league before this match. Palace, meanwhile, lost 3-2 at Lyon on the same night.
Leverkusen host Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday and travel to OFI Crete on the next Europa League matchday, looking for a third straight win in the competition. Lech return to domestic action against Korona on Sunday.
Result: Lech Poznan 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen (UEFA Europa League, league phase, matchday 2, Poznan, 15 October 2026)
Leverkusen scorers: Patrik Schick (29′ pen, 41′ pen), Malik Tillman (32′), Ibrahim Maza (89′)
