LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen earned a 2-2 draw with Newcastle in the Champions League without coach Kasper Hjulmand on Wednesday after the club said shortly before kickoff that he would miss the game for unspecified personal reasons.
An hour before the game was set to start, Leverkusen wrote in a post on X: “For personal reasons, our head coach Kasper Hjulmand will not be on the sideline.”
Assistant Rogier Meijer, a head coach in the Dutch league last season, stepped in for Hjulmand and watched as Alejandro Grimaldo's 88th-minute goal rescued a point for Leverkusen.
Leverkusen said Hjulmand is expected to return for Saturday's Bundesliga game against local rival Cologne.
The former Denmark coach has overseen a turnaround in Leverkusen's fortunes since he was appointed at short notice in September when the club's relationship with Erik ten Hag broke down after just three games.
Hjulmand has won 11 of 18 games in all competitions including a notable 2-0 surprise win over Manchester City last month.
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CORRECTS SPELLING OF FIRST NAME TO ROGIER, NOT ROGER - Leverkusen's assistant coach Rogier Meijer gestures during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leverkusen's head coach Kasper Hjulmand arrives for the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso and a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday raised further questions about his future.
Arsenal remains perfect in this season's competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champion Paris Saint-Germain was held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao.
Alonso had faced reports this week that he had lost control of the locker room and is likely to face intense speculation over his position after a latest defeat. It’s now just two wins in eight games for Madrid and back-to-back home losses.
There were jeers inside the Bernabeu at the final whistle.
“We know it’s a tough moment for us and for the coach,” Madrid winger Rodrygo said. “Things are not going our way and I wanted to show that we are behind our the coach. He has been trying. I wanted to show that we are together and we need to be united to keep moving forward and achieve our goals.”
Rodrygo had put Madrid in front in the 28th minute, but goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland sealed victory for City.
Alonso looked frustrated on the sidelines as he watched his blunt attack waste chances to salvage something in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappé, who was an unused substitute.
Vinicius Junior failed to hit the target with two chances from close range and Jude Bellingham lifted another effort over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Madrid is seventh in the standings, with only the top eight teams automatically advancing to the round of 16.
Top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League, too, Arsenal swept aside Club Brugge to maintain its 100% record in Europe.
Noni Madueke scored twice and Gabriel Martinelli got the other for Mikel Arteta's team.
PSG couldn't find a winner in Bilbao, but with 13 points after six games, the French giant has already equaled the total amount it picked up in the league phase last season before going on to win the trophy.
Italian champion Napoli lost 2-0 at Benfica, while Weston McKennie was on target for Juventus in a 2-0 win at Pafos.
Alejandro Grimaldo made the difference again for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring in the 88th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle.
A hero of Leverkusen’s surprise win at Man City last month, Grimaldo surged into the penalty area to level the score.
Leverkusen took an early lead when Bruno Guimaraes deflected Robert Andrich’s header into his own net. Nick Woltemade won a penalty that Anthony Gordon converted in the 51st before 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley headed Newcastle in front.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand missed the game for personal reasons, the club said an hour before kickoff.
Jeers rang out at full time at Borussia Dortmund after Norway’s Bodo/Glimt sealed a 2-2 draw, equalizing twice after Julian Brandt goals for Dortmund.
The result helps neither team, with Dortmund’s chances of direct qualification for the round of 16 taking a dent. Bodo/Glimt has three draws but no wins in its debut Champions League season.
Ajax scored three goals late in the game to deny Qarabag a surprise win in one of the early kickoffs.
Four-time European champion Ajax twice trailed against its Azerbaijani opponent, but fought back to win 4-2 in Baku.
Qarabag has been one of the surprise packages in this season’s competition and led after 10 minutes through Camilo Duran. Matheus Silva scored two minutes into the second half to make it 2-1 after Kasper Dolberg had leveled for Ajax.
But Ajax powered back with three goals in 11 minutes. Oscar Gloukh scored in the 79th and 90th, with Anton Gaaei getting the other in the 82nd.
Copenhagen also scored late to win 3-2 at Villarreal.
Substitute Andreas Cornelius struck in the 90th to seal victory in a game where Copenhagen had twice been pegged back after taking the lead.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and PSG in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Dec.10, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Arsenal's Noni Madueke celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Club Brugge and Arsenal in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after missing a chance during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe sits at the bench before a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso sits at the bench before a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Copenhagen's Elias Achouri, right, challenges for the ball with Villarreal's Ilias Akhomach during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villareal and Copenhagen in Villareal, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Ajax's Kasper Dolberg reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Ajax in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo)
Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso takes his seat on the bench before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
