Bayer Leverkusen endured a nightmare start to their preseason preparations, suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Flamengo’s U20 side in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite Flamengo’s senior team making waves in past Club World Cup outings, including a memorable win over eventual champions Chelsea and a close battle with Bayern Munich, this time it was their youth squad that stole the spotlight.
The Brazilian U20 side raced into a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time, punishing a sluggish Leverkusen side still adjusting to travel and jet lag.
Erik ten Hag opted for an aggressive approach from the start, but it quickly backfired.
A swift counterattack caught his side off guard, setting the tone for what became a dominant display by Flamengo’s youngsters.
New recruit Mark Flekken started in goal, joined by Arthur, Amine Adli, and Nigerian striker Victor Boniface. Jonas Hofmann captained the side, but neither Flekken nor Boniface lasted past the 36th minute, both were withdrawn with Leverkusen already two goals down.
Even with midfield stalwart Granit Xhaka and several members of last season’s double-winning squad entering the fray on the hour mark, the damage had already been done.
Flamengo U20 had extended their lead to 5-0 by then, leaving Leverkusen with only a late consolation.
That came from 17-year-old Montrell Cullbreath, who slotted home a well-taken goal with 20 minutes remaining.
While Leverkusen were just kicking off their preseason campaign following a long-haul flight, Flamengo U20 are in midseason rhythm.
They currently sit fifth in the Brasileiro U20 standings, trailing leaders Palmeiras by 12 points after 18 matches.
The raucous crowd at the 4,000-capacity Estádio da Gávea added to the vibrant atmosphere on a day Leverkusen will be eager to forget.
