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Ten Hag HUMILIATED: Bayer Leverkusen lose 5-1 to Flamengo U20 in first match since Man Utd sacking
Robin Bairner
- 19 Jul 2025 09:07 BST
- 4 min read
News
Erik ten Hag’s career at Bayer Leverkusen got off to an inauspicious start on Friday as he watched the Bundesliga side slump to an incredible 5-1 loss against Flamengo U20 in Rio de Janeiro.
It was Ten Hag’s first match in a dugout since being sacked by Manchester United last October, with the Dutchman dismissed after a poor start to the season that left the club 14th with just three wins from nine Premier League games.
His time at Old Trafford ended with a 2-1 loss to West Ham United, and he would not have thought that his next outing would be an even more bruising affair.
Having been appointed as Leverkusen boss to replace Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid, Ten Hag’s first friendly ended in an infamous 5-1 loss to Flamengo’s academy team.
Disaster for Ten Hag on Leverkusen bow
Although Leverkusen were not at full strength, they did boast summer signings Mark Flekken and Axel Tape among their starting XI, while the likes of Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann and Amine Adli were also included from the outset.
Ten Hag’s side got off to a nightmare start as they conceded after less than 90 seconds on a counterattack. A second goal followed on 10 minutes and by half-time the beleaguered German side were trailing 4-0.
Soon after the restart, Flamengo, who are in the midst of their competitive season, netted a fifth.
Bayer Leverkusen belatedly got one back through youngster Montrell Culbreath after Ten Hag had elected to bring on Granit Xhaka, who has been closely linked with a move to Sunderland.
Ten Hag’s next test will come against Bochum in a friendly match, which will be the second of five warm-up games Leverkusen play before the Bundesliga season starts on 23 August. Chelsea headline B04’s pre-season program, facing the Premier League side at Stamford Bridge on 8 August.
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