Rough Start for Ten Hag as Leverkusen Thrashed 5–1 by Flamengo U20s
Erik ten Hag’s debut as Bayer Leverkusen manager got off to a disastrous start on Friday, as his side suffered an embarrassing 5–1 defeat to Flamengo’s U20 team in a pre-season friendly.
The match, played at Estadio da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, quickly turned into a nightmare for the Bundesliga outfit. Flamengo’s young guns dominated from the outset, with Lorran scoring within the first two minutes, setting the tone for a brutal first half.
Leverkusen’s misery deepened soon after with an own goal from Arthur, followed by clinical finishes from Matheus Goncalves and Pedro Leao, putting the Brazilian side 4–0 up by halftime.
Things didn’t improve after the break. Substitute Gusttavo Silva added a fifth, capping off an inspired performance from the Flamengo youth team.
Leverkusen did manage a consolation goal later in the second half, after bringing on experienced names like Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, and Alejandro Grimaldo.
Still, it did little to mask a disappointing and disjointed showing—especially given that starters like Victor Boniface, Amine Adli, and Jonas Hofmann featured from the beginning.
Upcoming friendlies against VFL Bochum (July 27) and Fortuna Sittard (August 1) offer a chance to regroup and refine his squad before the competitive action begins.
