Leverkusen Vs Olympiacos: Stalemate enough to earn Leverkusen place in last 16
A goalless second leg at the BayArena completed Bayer Leverkusen's tie and left the leverkusen vs olympiacos matchup settled, Leverkusen advancing on aggregate after a 2-0 advantage from last week's first leg and securing a place in the Champions League last 16.
Goalless return at the BayArena settled the tie
Leverkusen dominated the second leg and controlled large parts of the game at the BayArena, but failed to add to their first-leg cushion. The German side went through on aggregate thanks to the 2-0 lead carried from the first fixture, a double from Patrik Schick in that opening meeting proving decisive.
Leverkusen Vs Olympiacos: Key moments in a one-sided night
Within four minutes Schick glanced a header wide after connecting with Alejandro Grimaldo's cross, and the Czech forward later fluffed an attempt to lob the onrushing Konstantinos Tzolakis. Olympiacos had a rare spell on the front foot when Chiquinho blazed a shot over from the edge of the area, and Grimaldo came closest for the hosts when he struck the crossbar midway through the second half.
Schick’s brace in first leg proved decisive
Leverkusen's progress did not depend on scoring in the return fixture: Patrik Schick's brace in the first leg put the tie out of reach and made the goalless second leg sufficient. The result earns Leverkusen a place in the last 16 for only the second time since the 2016/17 season, and the last time the club qualified for the Champions League last 16 in back-to-back seasons was 2015.
Injury concerns after Union Berlin defeat
Leverkusen head into the draw carrying injury worries picked up in a 1-0 loss at Union Berlin at the weekend. Loïc Badé and Malik Tillman both suffered problems in that match, with Badé a certainty to miss and poised for a month-long absence. Tillman's ankle issue has thrust his status into doubt; he was the victim of a studs-up foul by Union's Stanley Nsoki, who was yellow-carded for the challenge in the 3rd minute. Tillman played until he was subbed in the 81st minute and was seen limping as he left the stadium.
Kaspar Hjulmand said on Monday: “It will be difficult with Malik. It hasn’t been fully decided yet, but it doesn’t look very good. The decision will be made tomorrow. ” Mark Flekken is also out for the hosts, as are attackers Nathan Tella and Eliesse Ben Seghir. If Tillman is unavailable, veteran Jonas Hofmann could slide into the frontline alongside Schick and Ernest Poku.
Context, head-to-head and what comes next
Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiakos have met four times in the UEFA Champions League, with both sides winning two games apiece; the German side's sole home victory in those meetings was a 2-0 win in October 2002. Olympiacos' efficiency had been key in earlier meetings, but they were unable to make the most of the moments they created in the final third last week; the Greek giants have not triumphed in a two-legged tie in this competition since the first round of the 1983–84 European Cup.
José Luis Mendilibar’s men were at least successful domestically at the weekend, beating Panetolikos 2–0, while Leverkusen suffered the damaging 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin that produced the injuries named above. Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute; the momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Next steps: draw and squad decisions
Leverkusen will learn whether they face Premier League leaders Arsenal or reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich when the draw for the last 16 takes place on Friday. A final decision on Malik Tillman's availability is expected tomorrow, and Loïc Badé's month-long absence is already confirmed.
The leverkusen vs olympiacos tie closed with a 0-0 second leg, and Leverkusen now shift focus to the draw on Friday and the club's injury management ahead of the knockout phase.
