Lazio vs Bayer Leverkusen 08/18/2015 UEFA Champions League Preview,Odd

Leverkusen’s Roberto Hilbert, left, and Lazio’s Marco Parolo challenge for the ball during a qualifying round, first leg Champions League soccer match between Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen, at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015. He raced from the halfway line before firing into the bottom left corner to leave the Italian side with real hope of ending an eight-year absence from Europe’s premier competition.

Leverkusen thought they had taken the lead on 69 minutes when Hakan Calhanoglu’s shot was flicked in by Stefan Kiessling, who was ruled offside.

“The goal is important both for the team and for the fans”.

“Our opponents beat Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Zenit at home last season, so clearly they are tough, but the lads gave the response we were looking for”. Lars Bender’s 25-yard strike smashed the post, then the hosts counterattacked and Miroslav Klose showed agility which belied his 37 years of age to wriggle past Bernd Leno and ricochet his shot off the post from an acute angle.

Wendell, who had already been booked, was fortunate to escape a second yellow card and a sending off when the Brazilian blocked Felipe Anderson shortly before half-time, with the Lazio crowd shouting for his dismissal.

The second half continued to crackle and, with 60 minutes on the clock, Calhanoglu rocketed a 20-yard free kick over the wall straight at Berisha, who palmed it away to safety.

Slimani stroked the ball past the CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the 82nd minute after a one-two with André Carrillo, who fed the ball to the Algerian while under pressure. “Klose had a muscular problem and I think it is highly unlikely we’ll be able to have him in the second leg”.

Doumbia had seen a 27th-minute penalty saved by Rui Patrício after Zoran Tosic had been brought down by Jefferson in the box.

The swedish referee Jonas Eriksson blew his whistle after the stoppage time was completed and the game ended with a 1-0 win for Lazio and even though the game should’ve ended on a draw, Lazio was smart to capitalize on their chances and they ended securing a one-goal advantage that could prove to be key for the second leg of tie that will be played on Germany at BayArena next week.