Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen got off to a rocky start as the German champions suffered a surprising 5-1 defeat to Flamengo U20s in their first pre-season friendly.
The match, played behind closed doors, saw Leverkusen field a mixed lineup of youth and senior players in the first half. However, the Brazilian youngsters dominated from the onset, racing to a 4-0 lead by halftime with fluid attacking play and clinical finishing.
In a bid to steady the ship, Ten Hag brought on his entire first team after the break, but the damage was already done. Despite an improved showing and a consolation goal, Flamengo’s youth side capped off a remarkable performance with a fifth goal late on to seal a 5-1 victory.
The heavy defeat will serve as an early wake-up call for Ten Hag and his squad, as they prepare to defend their Bundesliga title and compete in the UEFA Champions League in the upcoming season.
