Florian Wirtz not mentioned as Schick’s brace sends Leverkusen 2:0 in Piraeus

florian wirtz did not figure in the match narrative as Bayer Leverkusen beat Olympiakos Piräus 2: 0 in the Champions-League playoff first leg at the Karaiskakis-Stadion, a result that leaves the German side with a solid advantage ahead of the return fixture.

Schick decides tie with two quick goals

Patrik Schick settled the game with a double after a cagey opening period. The first goal came in the 60th minute following a deep Balleroberung that led to Ernest Poku sending Schick on a run; Schick finished past goalkeeper Tzolakis to make it 1: 0 and mark the club’s 200th goal in the competition. Only three minutes later a corner from Alejandro Grimaldo found the first post and Schick rose to head home for 2: 0.

Schick described the match as "sehr schwer" given Olympiakos’s aggressive start, and coach Kasper Hjulmand said he feared a repeat of an earlier collapse after the hosts began furiously. Leverkusen defended with discipline through the Karaiskakis pressure and struck when opportunities appeared.

Set-piece tweak and a silent signal to Grimaldo

The second goal followed a subtle change at the corner flag: Schick gave a brief signal and Grimaldo altered the delivery, targeting the near post where Schick was waiting. Match coverage noted that the sequence — the signal, the corner and the goalkeeper’s positioning — combined to create the finish at the first post.

The corner routine and its quick execution turned a moment of sustained defending into a match-sealing score inside a handful of minutes at the stadium in Piraeus.

Florian Wirtz absent from reports, but Leverkusen’s position is clear

florian wirtz was not referenced in descriptions of the game; attention centered on Schick’s clinical use of limited chances and on the set-piece that produced the second goal. The result leaves Leverkusen with a two-goal cushion and a clean sheet from the trip to Greece.

Club officials cautioned against overconfidence despite the lead; the team’s recent record of five clean sheets in seven matches was cited as evidence of form, but management warned the tie is not decided.

What comes next

The return leg is scheduled for the coming Tuesday at 21 Uhr. With a 2: 0 advantage and the away clean sheet, Leverkusen heads into that match holding the initiative, while Olympiakos will need to overturn the deficit on home soil.