Bayer Leverkusen put on a masterclass to make the Champions League group stage for the tenth time in their history and take their place amongst the best sides in Europe. Leverkusen followed up their impressive fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season with a well-deserved 3-0 win against Lazio.
Hakan Calhanoglu, new signing Admir Mehmedi and Germany international Karim Bellarabi all scored to secure the win for Leverkusen, a week after losing the first leg 1-0 in Rome and three days before their top-of-the-table clash with Bayern München in the Bundesliga. Bayer played much of the second half with a man advantage after Mauricio was sent off for two bookable offences and successfully saw the game out to come through their fifth appearance in the Champions League qualifying round.
Breakthrough just before half time
The hosts forced the issue and put their opponents under pressure from the very first minute in front of 28,000 spectators in a sold-out BayArena. After chances for Bellarabi, Calhanoglu and Stefan Kießling, whose header struck the bar in the 25th minute, Bayer eventually got their breakthrough five minutes before half time. Calhanoglu found himself in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound after great work from Kießling, leaving Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha with no chance.
Bayer kept up the pressure after the break, with former Freiburg player Mehmedi quickly grabbing his second goal for the club after being set up by Bellarabi.
Lazio offered little after going behind
The Italian side, who were without German World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, captain Lucas Biglia, first-choice goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and centre forward Filip Djordjevic through injury, appeared shocked and offered very little to counter the Leverkusen onslaught.
Bayer, who themselves had to do without key players such as Charles Aranguiz, Ömer Toprak and Tin Jedvai, were flawless both in defence and going forward, and could have won by a greater margin. Captain Lars Bender was one of many players to spurn good chances.
Bayer Leverkusen put on a masterclass to make the Champions League group stage for the tenth time in their history and take their place amongst the best sides in Europe. Leverkusen followed up their impressive fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season with a well-deserved 3-0 win against Lazio.
Hakan Calhanoglu, new signing Admir Mehmedi and Germany international Karim Bellarabi all scored to secure the win for Leverkusen, a week after losing the first leg 1-0 in Rome and three days before their top-of-the-table clash with Bayern München in the Bundesliga. Bayer played much of the second half with a man advantage after Mauricio was sent off for two bookable offences and successfully saw the game out to come through their fifth appearance in the Champions League qualifying round.
Breakthrough just before half time
The hosts forced the issue and put their opponents under pressure from the very first minute in front of 28,000 spectators in a sold-out BayArena. After chances for Bellarabi, Calhanoglu and Stefan Kießling, whose header struck the bar in the 25th minute, Bayer eventually got their breakthrough five minutes before half time. Calhanoglu found himself in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound after great work from Kießling, leaving Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha with no chance.
Bayer kept up the pressure after the break, with former Freiburg player Mehmedi quickly grabbing his second goal for the club after being set up by Bellarabi.
Lazio offered little after going behind
The Italian side, who were without German World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, captain Lucas Biglia, first-choice goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and centre forward Filip Djordjevic through injury, appeared shocked and offered very little to counter the Leverkusen onslaught.
Bayer, who themselves had to do without key players such as Charles Aranguiz, Ömer Toprak and Tin Jedvai, were flawless both in defence and going forward, and could have won by a greater margin. Captain Lars Bender was one of many players to spurn good chances.
