Bayer Leverkusen advance to UEFA Champions League last 16 after overcoming Olympiacos play-off

Bayer Leverkusen delivered a composed, defensive performance to hold Olympiacos to a 0-0 draw at the BayArena, securing their place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 aggregate victory.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Olympiacos (2-0 on agg)

Leverkusen entered the BayArena with a comfortable two-goal cushion thanks to Patrik Schick's double in the first leg against Olympiacos.

Coach Kasper Hjulmand opted to favour experience for this one, making five changes to his starting line-up from the weekend, bringing back Lucas Vázquez, Exequiel Palacios, Jonas Hofmann, Schick, and Jarell Quansah.

Early chances go begging

Leverkusen started brightly, creating several opportunities in the opening minutes. Hofmann tested Konstantinos Tzolakis with a powerful effort from inside the box in the fourth minute, with the keeper parrying the ball behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Schick rose highest but couldn't direct his header on target. Minutes later, Schick had the best chance of the half when he was played through on goal and attempted to lob Tzolakis, but his effort drifted agonisingly wide of the post.

After Leverkusen's initial flurry, Olympiacos gradually grew into the match, with Chiquinho firing a long-range effort off target following their first corner of the game.

Patrik Schick went the closest in the first half as his lobbed finish beat the keeper before drifting wide of the goal. - IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / SJS

Grimaldo strikes woodwork

The visitors emerged with greater purpose after the interval, with Gelson Martins forcing Janis Blaswich into a smart save in the 50th minute.

The Portuguese winger continued to be Olympiacos' most dangerous outlet, though his shot in the 63rd minute was blocked by Edmond Tapsoba.

Leverkusen's closest chance came just before that when Alejandro Grimaldo struck the crossbar following a quick one-two with substitute Ernest Poku, who had replaced Ibrahim Maza in the 56th minute.

Alejandro Grimaldo came the closest of any player in the game to breaking the deadlock. - IMAGO/Moritz Mueller

Despite late pressure from Olympiacos, including several corners in stoppage time, Leverkusen's defence held firm to secure the goalless draw and their place in the next round, where either Bayern Munich or Arsenal await.

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