leverkusen return to Piraeus for replayed test as Andrich warns of familiar atmosphere
Bayer Leverkusen travel back to Piraeus on Wednesday evening (ET) for the Champions League play-off return leg, seeking a markedly different start than the one that left them trailing 0-2 in the first meeting. Captain Robert Andrich believes the experience of that hostile night can now work in the visitors' favor.
Andrich: familiarity can blunt the crowd
Leverkusen's captain described the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium as a boiling atmosphere the last time the sides met. An early goal within two minutes set the tone and transformed the venue into an intimidating cauldron, a factor that compounded Leverkusen's problems as the hosts pressed and punished the visitors' errors.
Andrich said the prior exposure to that noise and intensity might be advantageous this time. He explained that even though players often operate in their own tunnel before kickoff, the weight of the crowd becomes impossible to ignore after key moments — and Leverkusen suffered twice. The message for the rematch is straightforward: avoid repeating the slow start and take control early to deny the home fans momentum.
On the tactical side, Leverkusen know they must combine a more resilient defensive shape with clearer attacking end products. The first meeting yielded a respectable expected goals figure for the visitors, but not the decisive finishing required to change the scoreboard. Settling nerves in the opening exchanges is now a priority, because an early positive framework will help keep the atmosphere in check and allow Leverkusen to play their game.
Piraeus' internal pressure and Leverkusen's opportunities
Leverkusen face an opponent whose domestic form has been inconsistent in recent weeks. That home-side instability, visible in several draws and unexpected setbacks, has prompted internal intervention aimed at restoring focus. Reports from the club's environment indicate efforts to galvanize the squad, including off-field visits from leadership and motivational measures intended to lift performances.
On the pitch, the hosts have shown moments of dominance that did not always translate to goals. One recent match featured an unusually high volume of crosses and attacking attempts that nonetheless lacked the cutting edge; a signature moment saw the opposition striker attempt an acrobatic finish from close range and miss badly. Those kinds of wasteful chances underline an opportunity for Leverkusen: if they can remain compact and clinical on transitions, they can exploit the inconsistency.
Leverkusen's coaching staff will also weigh squad returns. The availability of players who missed the first encounter — providing options in attack and on the wings — could be decisive in changing the team's attacking profile. Greater variety in forward movement and sharper decision-making in the final third are likely focal points in pre-match preparations.
What to expect on Wednesday (ET)
Expect Leverkusen to prioritise a composed opening period, aiming to blunt the early surge that previously unsettled them. Pressing triggers, defensive organisation on set pieces and sharper combinations in attack will be emphasised to prevent a repeat of the initial setback. From the home side, renewed intensity is probable as they hunt a tie-clinching advantage, but their recent lapses hint at openings if Leverkusen can remain disciplined.
Ultimately this rematch is as much psychological as tactical. Having been through a difficult night in the stadium already, Leverkusen can approach Wednesday with clearer reading of the atmosphere and a concrete plan to neutralise it. If they execute that plan and convert the chances their play creates, the tie could flip on the very early moments that decided the first meeting.
