Bayer Leverkusen moved into the Champions League play-off round with a 3-0 victory over Villarreal, delivering a display Kasper Hjulmand felt reflected the team’s identity.
Malik Tillman struck twice before half-time, and Alejandro Grimaldo added a third after the break to cap a one-sided contest.
The win marked Leverkusen’s biggest Champions League success over Spanish opposition since a 3-0 triumph against Real Madrid in September 2004. Grimaldo continued an impressive scoring run in the competition, reaching six goals across the last two seasons. Among Spanish players over that spell, only Lamine Yamal, with eight, has more.
Hjulmand highlighted both control and aggression in possession as key parts of Leverkusen’s performance, which produced 1.9 expected goals compared with Villarreal’s 0.3. “We were very focused and had great control throughout, but also intensity going forward. That’s our way of playing football,” said Hjulmand, who also underlined the importance of progressing.
The head coach stressed that reaching this stage of the Champions League was planned well in advance. “We’ve reached the play-off phase, which was a major interim goal this season.” Leverkusen’s attacking approach was backed by numbers, with sustained pressure limiting Villarreal’s ability to build meaningful attacks or create clear openings.
Leverkusen registered 43 touches inside Villarreal’s penalty area, while the visitors managed only five. The German side also created four big chances, with Villarreal failing to register any. Their advantage in territory and pressure was visible throughout, as quick transitions and high pressing repeatedly forced turnovers in advanced zones.
Bayer Leverkusen Champions League clean sheet and Andrich assessment
Werkself captain Robert Andrich underlined the defensive work behind the result against Villarreal. “We kept a clean sheetthat’s always nice for us defenders,” said Andrich. “We were very quick out of the blocks, kept winning the ball and didn’t let them get into dangerous situations. That’s why it was a convincing win in the end.”
The combination of Tillman’s first-half brace, Grimaldo’s continued European scoring form and a disciplined defensive structure gave Leverkusen a controlled route into the Champions League play-offs. With clear statistical superiority and key individual contributions, Hjulmand’s side maintained momentum while achieving a stated target for this stage of the season.