Bayer Leverkusen DEMOLISH RB Salzburg 5-0 as Florian Wirtz bags brace

Youngster Florian Wirtz scored a brace for Bayer Leverkusen, as the German side claimed an impressive 5-0 UCL victory over RB Salzburg.

Bayer Leverkusen DEMOLISH RB Salzburg 5-0 as Florian Wirtz bags brace

Florian Wirtz scored a brace for Bayer Leverkusen in a 5-0 win over RB Salzburg. (via Yahoo Sports)

Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen got their UCL campaign back on track with a 5-0 home win over RB Salzburg in a fifth-round encounter. The home side returned to winning ways in the competition, after having previously suffered a distasteful 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Leverkusen had an early 8th minute lead, as Florian Wirtz scored from the penalty spot. Alejandro Grimaldo put his name on the scoresheet three minutes later, as he netted a brilliant free-kick goal.

Wirtz scored again on the half-hour mark, thanks to an assist from Grimaldo. Salzburg were no match to a relentless Leverkusen side. 16 minutes after the break, forward Patrick Schick scored from close range, to make it 4-0. This was followed by a 72nd minute strike from second-half substitute, Aleix Garcia.

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The win marked the German side’s joint biggest victory in a major European football match. Leverkusen had previously registered two 5-0 victories in the UEFA Cup, against Budapest Honed in 1994, and against Zurich in 2007.

The recent victory, moreover, lifts Xabi Alonso’s side to 6th place on the UCL table, with 10 points. Leverkusen have continued with their impressive form under the Spaniard, who led them to their maiden Bundesliga title last season. Salzburg, on the other hand, are in the 32nd place on the table.

Nonetheless, it will now be a challenging month ahead for Leverkusen, who next face Union Berlin. It will be followed by a DFB Pokal match against Bayern Munich, and a UCL encounter against Inter Milan. RB Salzburg, on the other hand, faces French giants PSG next.

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Bayer Leverkusen starlet Florian Wirtz equals Lionel Messi’s record

Florian Wirtz capped off his Man of the Match display for Leverkusen against RB Salzburg by equaling Lionel Messi’s record. The 21-year-old German attacking midfielder was on target twice, and also provided an assist, in a 5-0 Champions League victory.

Florian Wirtz Lionel Messi record
Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz equalled Lionel Messi’s record of UCL goals, before the age of 22. (via Al Jazeera)

The midfielder took his European goals tally to 17, drawing level with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. He became one of the fewest players to score this many goals, before turning 22. 12 of Florian Wirtz’s 17 goals have come in the Europa league, while five of those have come in the UCL. Only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo are ahead of the German youngster.

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Apart from this magnificent feat, the 21-year-old midfielder, with his five UCL goals, now has the most goals scored by a German player in his first five UCL matches. Wirtz has already scored nine goals and provided four assists in all competitions this season.