Injury Rules Elyas Ben Sghir Out of Bayer Leverkusen's Preseason Debut

Moroccan international Elias Ben Sghir has suffered an early setback as Bayer Leverkusen begins preparations for the new season, with a muscle injury ruling him out of the team's first friendly match under Spanish coach Carles Martínez.

According to German newspaper "Bild," Benzgier was a candidate to be in the starting lineup for the friendly match against Sportfreunde Baumberg, but he felt muscle pain during warm-ups, prompting the coaching staff to exclude him from the match to avoid aggravating the injury.

Following the conclusion of the match, which Bayer Leverkusen won decisively with a score of 7-0, coach Carles Martínez explained that the decision not to include Moroccan player Bensghir was a precautionary measure, confirming that he had suffered a sudden muscle spasm, which led the coaching staff to avoid risking his participation.

With the Moroccan international absent, new Portuguese arrival Afonso Moreira was given the chance to start, and he seized it in the best way possible by scoring two goals within the first thirty minutes, sending a strong message amid the competition for a place in the German team's starting lineup.

Benzekri hopes to regain his fitness as soon as possible, especially since he is looking to deliver a better season after a modest start with Bayer Leverkusen, following his transfer from Monaco in the summer of 2025. He has played 17 matches in various competitions without managing to score any goals or provide any assists.