Bayer Leverkusen advance to Champions League knockout stage following draw with Olympiacos

Bayer Leverkusen secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a goalless draw at home against Olympiacos on Tuesday, clinching the play-off tie 2-0 overall. 

Although not at their sharpest, Leverkusen managed to progress comfortably after their solid victory in the first leg in Greece last week. 

This marks the first occasion since 2002 that Leverkusen have navigated a two-legged Champions League knockout matchup, back when they fell 2-1 to Real Madrid in the final. 

The German side, who claimed the 2024 domestic double, will next take on either Arsenal, the current Premier League frontrunners, or Bayern Munich, the reigning German champions who knocked out Leverkusen in last season's last 16. 

"The match unfolded far from our expectations. We were too slow; the main silver lining is the clean sheet and advancing," expressed a disappointed Leverkusen skipper Robert Andrich to Amazon Prime. 

"We lacked pace and intensity, both defensively and offensively; luckily, the opposition could not capitalise."

Supporting his leader's view, Leverkusen midfielder Jonas Hofmann noted that manager Kasper Hjulmand "might head home for a beer to drown out that display. No one in the squad can feel content with it".

Leverkusen had maintained an unbeaten home record without conceding in any competition since the start of January, and they faced few threats from the lively yet ineffective Greek title holders. 

Olympiacos had benched several key players during their Greek Super League fixture on Saturday, aiming to achieve their first Champions League last 16 appearance since the 2013-14 campaign, where they were edged out by Manchester United. 

To boost morale, Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, a billionaire who also controls Nottingham Forest, vowed a substantial financial reward for progressing to the knockout phase. 

In the previous leg, Patrik Schick netted twice in quick succession, and the Czech forward was active from the start, narrowly missing a header and lofting a chip over keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis but wide of the post within the opening six minutes.

Following that initial pressure, Leverkusen adopted a more defensive stance as the game progressed, compelling the away team to generate chances. 

The hosts' clearest opportunity arrived in the second half when Alejandro Grimaldo struck the crossbar with Tzolakis out of position. 

The only downside for Leverkusen came late when right-back Lucas Vazquez, a former Champions League victor with Real Madrid, hobbled off injured.