Bayer Leverkusen earned their first three points of this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) League Phase with a hard-fought 1-0 win over SL Benfica in Lisbon — only their second away victory in their last 11 games in the competition.

Both sides entered matchday four without a win to their name, and that lack of confidence showed in a nervy and disjointed opening spell. Dodi Lukebakio came closest early on when he latched onto Richard Ríos’ long ball and sent a clever chip against the junction of post and crossbar. Leandro Barreiro then had a good chance for the hosts but headed wide from Heorhiy Sudakov’s teasing delivery.

Despite the chaotic nature of the game, José Mourinho’s Benfica looked the more threatening and came within inches of taking the lead when Nicolás Otamendi’s looping header from a corner struck the bar.

Leverkusen, who have lost just once domestically under Kasper Hjulmand but struggled to translate that form to Europe, found their footing later in the half. Ibrahim Maza slipped a pass through to Ernest Poku, yet the young forward dragged his finish wide under pressure.

Benfica, however, should have gone into the break ahead after Vangelis Pavlidis failed to turn home into an open net following a defensive mix-up. The Greek striker’s frustrating evening continued after the restart, as goalkeeper Mark Flekken denied him brilliantly when he attempted to dribble around the Dutchman.

Having wasted multiple chances, Benfica were made to pay midway through the second half. Hjulmand’s substitutions swung the balance, and Patrik Schick capitalised on a defensive calamity — first denied by Anatoliy Trubin from Alex Grimaldo’s through ball, the Czech striker was gifted a second chance moments later when Samuel Dahl’s misplaced header fell kindly into his path. Schick made no mistake this time, nodding past the stranded goalkeeper to put Leverkusen ahead.

Benfica pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but a wayward Lukebakio strike was as close as they came to rescuing a result.

The defeat leaves Benfica rooted to the bottom of their League Phase group with zero points and without a goal since matchday one against Qarabağ FK. Leverkusen, meanwhile, may have been short on attacking fluidity, but their defensive solidity and vital first win see them climb into the top 24 — and finally on track in Europe under Hjulmand.