Tillman Shines For Leverkusen As Lewandowski Equals Messi Record

On a night brimming with high stakes and even higher drama, the UEFA Champions League delivered yet again as European football giants battled for survival and glory. January 28, 2026, will go down as a pivotal evening for both Bayer Leverkusen and FC Barcelona, with American midfielder Malik Tillman and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski each etching their names into Champions League lore—albeit for very different reasons.

For Bayer Leverkusen, the mission was crystal clear: win, and the dream of Champions League knockout football would live on. Anything less, and the season’s European ambitions could come to a screeching halt. Facing Villarreal on home turf in Leverkusen, the German side started the night ranked 20th in the newly expanded 36-team league standings. Only a victory would guarantee a coveted top-24 finish—enough to punch their ticket to the knockout phase. If they could climb into the top 16, they’d also secure a crucial seeding advantage for the playoff draw. The stakes? About as high as they come.

Enter Malik Tillman, the 23-year-old United States international whose performance was nothing short of inspired. In just the 12th minute, Tillman showcased a blend of awareness and opportunism that left the crowd buzzing. As Villarreal’s goalkeeper Arnau Tenas attempted a routine pass out of the six-yard box, Tillman darted across the penalty area, blocking the clearance. The ball ricocheted off him and, almost in slow motion, bounced into the net. It was an unorthodox goal—one that caught even the most seasoned fans off guard. But there was no denying its importance or Tillman’s quick thinking.

Leverkusen’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, was quick to praise his midfielder’s instincts. “In this situation he’s very clever,” Hjulmand said after the match. “He reads the game very well. Malik’s cleverness and intensity are something he’s been working on.” The coach’s words echoed the sentiment reverberating through the BayArena stands: this was a player coming into his own on one of Europe’s biggest stages.

If there were any doubts about Tillman’s impact, he erased them in the 35th minute. Picking up the ball near the edge of the penalty area, Tillman unleashed a precise low right-footed shot that zipped past the Villarreal defense and into the back of the net. Two goals to his name, and Leverkusen were in complete control. The German outfit would eventually cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory, sealing their place in the Champions League knockout rounds and climbing to 16th in the standings—enough to ensure they’ll be seeded in the upcoming playoff draw.

Leverkusen’s reward? Home advantage in the second leg of the playoff tie, set to take place between February 17 and 25, against either Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos. For a club that began the night on the precipice, the mood in the locker room was understandably jubilant. But as Hjulmand and his players know all too well, the real work is only just beginning. The playoffs promise even sterner tests, with European heavyweights waiting in the wings.

While Leverkusen celebrated a night to remember, FC Barcelona found themselves in the midst of their own high-pressure showdown—this time against Copenhagen. The Danish side struck first, with Viktor Dadason giving the visitors a shock early lead. But Barcelona, never a club to wilt under pressure, responded with characteristic flair and determination.

The man of the hour? None other than Robert Lewandowski. The 37-year-old striker, already one of the most prolific scorers in Champions League history, delivered yet another moment of brilliance. After the halftime break, Lewandowski finished off a slick team move with a delicate right-footed touch, drawing Barcelona level and sending a ripple of relief through the home crowd.

But this was no ordinary goal. With that strike, Lewandowski equaled Lionel Messi’s long-standing record for scoring against the most different teams in Champions League history—an astonishing 40 clubs since his debut with Borussia Dortmund in the 2011–12 campaign. “It’s been a long journey to this point,” Lewandowski admitted in post-match remarks, referencing the physical setbacks that had delayed his pursuit of the record. “I’m proud to stand alongside a player like Messi, but I’m always hungry for more.”

Lewandowski’s journey to this milestone has been anything but straightforward. Last season, he finished just two goals shy of Messi’s record, but injuries and fitness struggles kept him from closing the gap until now. Even in the current league phase, he faced three teams—Newcastle, Club Brugge, and Eintracht Frankfurt—against whom he had never scored, and he was unable to break that particular duck. It was only a week earlier, against Slavia Praha, that he added another club to his remarkable list of victims.

With 107 goals in 140 Champions League appearances, Lewandowski now stands as the competition’s third-highest scorer, trailing only Messi (129 goals) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140 goals). His favorite targets? Benfica, who have conceded nine times to the Polish star, followed by Red Star Belgrade (seven), and both Real Madrid and Salzburg (six apiece). Such statistics are a testament to his enduring class and consistency at the highest level.

So, what’s next for Lewandowski? With Messi now plying his trade at Inter Miami and contracted through December 2028, a return to Europe’s elite competition seems unlikely for the Argentine legend. That leaves the door wide open for Lewandowski to seize the outright record—if he can find the net against just one more club. Yet nothing is guaranteed. As the Champions League heads into the knockout rounds, Barcelona’s draw will determine whether Lewandowski gets a shot at the handful of teams he’s yet to score against, including Liverpool, Newcastle, Sporting CP, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiakos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, AS Monaco, Qarabag FK, and FK Bodo/Glimt.

With Barcelona’s Champions League fate hanging in the balance, the coming weeks could prove decisive for Lewandowski’s pursuit of history. His own future remains uncertain, adding a layer of intrigue to every match. Will he get another chance to break the record? Only time—and the luck of the draw—will tell.

As the dust settles on a dramatic matchday, Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona both have plenty to celebrate—and plenty to ponder. For Leverkusen, the focus now shifts to the playoffs and the hope of a deep run. For Barcelona and Lewandowski, the chase for records and silverware continues. One thing’s for sure: the Champions League never fails to deliver, and the best may be yet to come.