Leverkusen's Late Drama: Grimaldo Saves the Day with Stunning Equaliser Against Newcastle

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Bayer Leverkusen's hopes of advancing in the Champions League were on the line on Wednesday, but Alejandro Grimaldo had other plans. The Spanish winger scored a breathtaking 88th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw against Newcastle, sending shockwaves through the Stade BayArena. The match began on a positive note for Leverkusen, who took the lead in the 13th minute through a Bruno Guimaraes own goal. However, Newcastle equalised in the 55th minute after a costly mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who was pressured by Nick Woltemade into a poor error. Anthony Gordon sealed the equaliser from the spot, leaving Leverkusen reeling. Newcastle seemed to be in control, but Grimaldo had other ideas. The 28-year-old winger latched onto a pass from Ibrahim Maza and unleashed a powerful shot that beat Aaron Ramsdale, securing a crucial point for Leverkusen. The draw sees Newcastle slip to 10 points, while Leverkusen remain on nine, with two matches remaining in the group stages. The outcome of the match has significant implications for both teams. Newcastle will face a tougher draw in the remaining matches, hosting PSV Eindhoven and then traveling to Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions. Leverkusen, on the other hand, will face Olympiacos and Villarreal, who are struggling near the bottom of the table. The draw also raises questions about Leverkusen's coach, Kasper Hjulmand, who missed the match due to personal reasons. Hjulmand had taken over from Erik ten Hag after just two league games and had been working to get the team back on track. Despite the setback, Grimaldo's heroics have given Leverkusen a glimmer of hope in the Champions League.