Bayer Leverkusen are bristling with confidence ahead of the second leg of their qualifier against Lazio (20:45 CEST), and are certain that they will win. The reward would be entry to the Champions League group stage, while failure would be compensated with Europa League qualification. "There is a great belief that we can qualify and the boys are really excited about the game," said sporting director Rudi Völler. Around €20 million in Champions League prize money rests upon the result of this match.
"There is a great deal of determination throughout the team," said chief executive Michael Schade, who made his aims very clear. "We want to consolidate last season’s fourth place Bundesliga finish." The 1-0 loss to the team of World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, who picked up an injury which has ruled him out of tonight’s game at the BayArena, has not tarnished Leverkusen’s confidence. "I am confident that we can turn the score around in front of our own fans, and qualify yet again," said the Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt, who is not afraid of conceding. "If they score, we must score three."
Encouraging start as Leverkusen begin the Bundesliga unbeaten
The two Bundesliga victories against Hoffenheim and Hannover have put Leverkusen in good stead ahead of "the most important game of the season", as Stefan Kießling put it. The Leverkusen goalscorer, along with his teammates, desperately want to get into the Champions League, rather than have the disappointment of Europa League. "We would rather lose in Barcelona than win against the Europa League’s far afield teams," said Schade.
Schade is certainly not wasting time thinking about the prospect of going out to Lazio. "I’m not thinking about it. We want to beat Lazio to the Champions League by any means. I trust in the fans to make the BayArena into a fortress." Schade also emphasised that failure to qualify would not change their plans for a successful season.
Lazio, however, also want to avoid the Europa League. "We want to be in the Champions League no matter what," said Lazio manager Stefano Pioli, who must travel to Leverkusen without Germany’s international top goalscorer Klose. The team’s captain, Lucas Biglia, is also injured along with goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and centre forward Filip Djordjevic.
Bayer Leverkusen are bristling with confidence ahead of the second leg of their qualifier against Lazio (20:45 CEST), and are certain that they will win. The reward would be entry to the Champions League group stage, while failure would be compensated with Europa League qualification. "There is a great belief that we can qualify and the boys are really excited about the game," said sporting director Rudi Völler. Around €20 million in Champions League prize money rests upon the result of this match.
"There is a great deal of determination throughout the team," said chief executive Michael Schade, who made his aims very clear. "We want to consolidate last season’s fourth place Bundesliga finish." The 1-0 loss to the team of World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, who picked up an injury which has ruled him out of tonight’s game at the BayArena, has not tarnished Leverkusen’s confidence. "I am confident that we can turn the score around in front of our own fans, and qualify yet again," said the Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt, who is not afraid of conceding. "If they score, we must score three."
Encouraging start as Leverkusen begin the Bundesliga unbeaten
The two Bundesliga victories against Hoffenheim and Hannover have put Leverkusen in good stead ahead of "the most important game of the season", as Stefan Kießling put it. The Leverkusen goalscorer, along with his teammates, desperately want to get into the Champions League, rather than have the disappointment of Europa League. "We would rather lose in Barcelona than win against the Europa League’s far afield teams," said Schade.
Schade is certainly not wasting time thinking about the prospect of going out to Lazio. "I’m not thinking about it. We want to beat Lazio to the Champions League by any means. I trust in the fans to make the BayArena into a fortress." Schade also emphasised that failure to qualify would not change their plans for a successful season.
Lazio, however, also want to avoid the Europa League. "We want to be in the Champions League no matter what," said Lazio manager Stefano Pioli, who must travel to Leverkusen without Germany’s international top goalscorer Klose. The team’s captain, Lucas Biglia, is also injured along with goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and centre forward Filip Djordjevic.
