Bayer Leverkusen rode their luck in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Benfica, and coach Kasper Hjulmand didn't even attempt to hide that fact in his post-match press conference. However, the Dane was perfectly entitled to be immensely proud of his players' performance at the Estadio da Luz. "We played our third away game in seven days with the youngest team in Europe," he said. "Of course, we could have played better, but what fight from the boys! They did everything to win this."
Furthermore, with their first win in this season's Champions League, which came courtesy of a Patrik Schick's 65th-minute effort, Leverkusen are suddenly eyeing a play-off berth. Even if they lose to Man City on matchday five (which they no doubt will), they could yet turn things around against Newcastle, Olympiacos and Villarreal.