Leverkusen Advances to Champions League Quarter-Finals After Victory Over Olympiakos at BayArena

Bayer 04 Leverkusen secured a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a clear 3-1 victory over Olympiakos Piraeus in the second leg of the round of 16. The match was played at BayArena in Leverkusen. This result gave the German club victory in the two-legged tie, as the first leg in Greece ended in a goalless draw. This advancement is a significant achievement for the team led by coach Xabi Alonso. Bayer Leverkusen, founded in 1904, has won one German championship title to date (in the 2023/24 season), breaking Bayern Munich's long-standing dominance. In European competitions, the club's greatest success was reaching the Champions League final in 2002, where they lost to Real Madrid. Olympiakos, on the other hand, is the most decorated Greek club with numerous domestic championships, but its last significant European success (Champions League semi-final) occurred in 1999. Before the second leg, the main topic in the media was the injury of Leverkusen's key midfielder, Malik Tillman. As sources reported, the player was "fraglich" – meaning doubtful to play – which posed a serious tactical challenge for the coaching staff. Tillman, an American midfielder of German descent, plays a crucial role in Alonso's tactics, linking midfield play with attack. His potential absence would have required a reconfiguration of the lineup. Ultimately, according to later reports, the player managed to recover and played in the match.Round of 16 Two-Legged Tie Results: Olympiakos Piraeus 0:0 Bayer Leverkusen; Bayer Leverkusen 3:1 Olympiakos Piraeus An organizational aspect highlighted by local press was the logistics and security around the stadium. Before the match, a detailed plan was developed to manage the movement of fans, both home supporters and visitors from Greece. Leverkusen authorities collaborated with police to ensure smooth access for thousands of spectators to BayArena and avoid disruptions in the city. An interesting fact noted by German media was the absence of the match broadcast on German public television. The match could only be watched on streaming platforms, which received mixed reactions from fans accustomed to traditional broadcasting forms. This decision is part of a broader trend in global sports, where television rights are increasingly going to digital entities. Leverkusen's success in this Champions League season raises hopes among German fans for their representative's return to the European elite after years of absence at such a high level of competition.