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Leverkusen logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 1, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Benfica

3-1

Kiessling (25'), Son (34'), Calhanoglu (64' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-0)
Salvio (61')

Half-Time Report: Bayer Leverkusen in control against Benfica

Bayer Leverkusen dominate the first half against Benfica, with Stefan Kiessling and Son Heung-Min giving them a 2-0 lead at half time.

Bayer Leverkusen are on course for a victory to boost their hopes of Champions League progress after opening up a 2-0 lead against Portuguese giants Benfica.

Looking to rebound from an opening-day defeat against Monaco, Bayer made a positive start with Stefan Kiessling providing an early chance when he cut the ball back into the path of Son Heung-Min, but his shot was straight at Julio Cesar.

Leverkusen's midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Leverkusen's forward Stefan Kiessling celebrate during the first leg UEFA Champions League Group C football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs SL Benfica in Leverkusen, western Germany on October 1, 2014© Getty Images

The Bundesliga outfit nearly breached the Benfica defence when Hakan Calhanoglu saw his effort blocked before the rebound reached Lars Bender, and the midfielder's curling effort beat Cesar but not the frame of the goal.

Leverkusen finally broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Son unleashed a fierce shot, which Cesar could only parry into the path of Kiessling and the German forward coolly scored.

On 34 minutes, the hosts extended their lead when Son latched on to Karim Bellarabi's cut-back before smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Bellarabi almost added a third before half time as he narrowly missed the target as Bayer continued to dominate the game.

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Monaco's French midfielder Jeremy Toulalan (R) vies for the ball with Leverkusen's forward Stefan Kiessling (2nd L) during the Champions League football match on September 16, 2014
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Player Ratings: Monaco 1-0 Leverkusen
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