Leverkusen aim for last-16 place with Schick after 2:0 first leg
Bayer leverkusen will aim to secure a place in the Champions League last 16 in the return leg against Olympiakos after a 2: 0 first-leg win in Greece; the return match is set for Tuesday (21. 00 Uhr) on Amazon Prime.
Schick back in sharp finishing and hold-up work
Patrik Schick trained on a cloud-covered pitch and impressed with shots on goal and his ball retention, a club report noted from the session. The 30-year-old forward already produced a decisive performance in the first leg, scoring a double within 144 seconds in Piräus that produced the 2: 0 lead Bayer take into the second match.
Club sporting director Simone Rolfes underlined the broader value Schick brings, saying it is important that he works hard up front and tries to hold the ball — a task Rolfes described as not every striker's favourite but enormously important. Coach Kasper Hjulmand added that Schick was "very, very sharp" and that his experience showed in that game.
Leverkusen set up at home for the return
Leverkusen go into the return leg with a favourable starting point after the away victory. Schick has been a key figure across competitions: his 1: 0 at Benfica helped the team in the group phase, he headed the second goal in a 2: 0 win at Manchester City, and he came close to scoring after coming off the bench in a 0: 1 loss at Union Berlin when a late header went narrowly over the bar.
Schick has remained at the club through a major summer overhaul and extended his contract early until 2030, signalling a long-term role in the side. The forward, listed at 1. 91 metres and in his sixth season with the club since joining in 2020, is presented as both a finisher and a player willing to contribute to pressing and hold-up play.
What Tuesday's match means and what comes next
The return leg on Tuesday (21. 00 Uhr) on Amazon Prime will decide whether Bayer complete their progression into the Champions League round of 16. The first-leg 2: 0 scoreline from Greece gives them the lead to protect at home.
If Leverkusen advance, their Champions League campaign will move into the knockout stage; if not, the tie will be decided over the two legs. The club and coaching staff have signalled confidence in Schick's form and his role in guiding the team through the decisive home fixture.
The next confirmed event is the return leg against Olympiakos on Tuesday (21. 00 Uhr) with live coverage on Amazon Prime.
