Perhaps none of the first-leg matches in the Champions League playoff round was fought more closely than the battle between Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen in Italy. It ended in a 1-0 win for Lazio after a late bulldozing run from Balde Keita gave the Italians a much-needed lead -- but now the match heads to Germany, and we’ve got a whole new ballgame.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Lazio streaming: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Champions League online
One goal currently separates two teams from claiming a place in the Champions League group stage. Who will come out on top in the race to secure it?
The BayArena is one of the loudest and rowdiest in Europe, and Leverkusen will be feeding off the energy of their fans as they try to overturn Lazio’s advantage to earn a place in the Champions League group stage. That spot would mean the world to both teams, with Lazio wanting to legitimize themselves as a true Italian competitor in Europe, and Leverkusen wanting to show that they can hang with the big boys -- but only one of these two teams will make it. This tie is running on the thinnest of margins, and while both teams deserve to be in the group stage, one of them will be going home seriously disappointed.
Key player -- Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen)
With just a one-goal gap between the teams coming into this match, this match will be won or lost on the slimmest of margins. That means that capitalizing on set pieces is going to be massively important -- and no one is better at that than the reigning Free Kick God. Calhanoglu has scored numerous jaw-dropping goals off free kicks over the last two years, and he’s just as good at dropping in service off them for other players to score. If any one single player can tilt the balance of this tie, it’s Calhanoglu.
Key factor -- The midfield battle
The midfield battle is always important, but this is a match that’s going to be played at a frenetic pace as both teams push hard to score early and often. Any mistake, hesitation, or lapse in concentration or judgement by any of the midfielders in this match will be amplified a hundred fold by the importance of the occasion, and that means the likes of Lars Bender, Christoph Kramer, Marco Parolo, and Ogenyi Onazi will have to be on top of their game in this match. This game will be won or lost depending on who can get and keep the upper hand in midfield. No pressure, guys.
Bayer Leverkusen injuries and suspensions
Out: Charles Aranguiz (Achilles’), Omer Toprak (thigh), Tin Jedvaj (thigh) In doubt: none
Lazio injuries and suspensions
Out: Lucas Biglia (calf), Federico Marchetti (calf), Filip Djordjevic (ankle), Miroslav Klose (hamstring) In doubt: Stefan de Vrij (head), Edson Braafheid (knee)
Neither side is especially healthy at the moment, with Lazio missing their top two strikers and best midfielder, and Bayer Leverkusen missing two of their top three center backs and a key midfielder. The depth of both teams is going to be sorely tested in this match, which often makes for the kind of match where a very, very surprising hero emerges.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
TV: Fox Sport 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), TSN 3, RDS 2 (Canada), Sky Sport 1/HD, Sky Sport 2/HD (Germany), BT Sport Extra (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sky Go Deutschland (Germany)
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