Wirtz stars as Leverkusen beats Red Bull Salzburg

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen cruised past Red Bull Salzburg to secure their third Champions League win of the season.

Florian Wirtz gave the home side an early lead from the penalty spot after the ball had hit Samson Baidoo on the elbow inside the area.

It was 2-0 just three minutes later, Alejandro Grimaldo curling a magnificent free-kick over the wall and into the net after Lucas Gourna-Douath’s foul on Wirtz.

The game was all but over as a game on the half-hour mark when Wirtz combined well with Grimaldo before sending a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Czech international Patrik Schick came on after 61 minutes and converted Jeremie Frimpong’s excellent delivery from close range.

And substitute Aleix Garcia completed the scoring four minutes after coming off the bench, finding the net from the edge of the box for his first Champions League goal.

This was Leverkusen’s joint biggest win in major European competition, matching their UEFA Cup wins over Budapest Honved in November 1994 and Zurich in December 2007.

It lifts Xabi Alonso’s side into the top eight in the league stage of the competition, while Salzburg remain in the bottom 12 after suffering a fourth defeat in five games.