Bayer Leverkusen reached the Champions League last 16 after a goalless draw against Olympiacos, yet Kasper Hjulmand felt the display fell short.
The result at BayArena completed a 2-0 aggregate win in the play-off tie, but with Bayern Munich or Arsenal waiting next, Hjulmand stressed that standards must rise.
The qualification also continued an important trend for Leverkusen in the Champions League. The club advanced to the last 16 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign, underlining consistent progress in Europe even on a night when creativity and sharpness in attack were missing.
Hjulmand did not hide frustration with the level of play despite the positive outcome. We are delighted to be through to the last 16. But the game and our performance weren’t good enough, he said, as reported by UEFA.com, making clear that the result could not disguise issues seen over the 90 minutes.
The head coach felt the game’s pattern shifted before half-time. From the 25th minute onwards, Olympiacos sensed they could make something happen up front. Our plan wasn’t to defend a lot in this game, but we had to and we did it well. We perhaps lacked a little energy, which we now need to recharge.
Attention quickly turned to the next round, where Leverkusen would meet either Bayern Munich or Arsenal. Hjulmand welcomed the challenge. The choice between Bayern and Arsenal is greatthey are two of the best teams in Europe, Hjulmand said. It has taken Arsenal years to get to the point where they are now and I don’t need to say anything about Bayern here in Germany. They are two huge tasks, but we want to have a huge task.
The match itself was tight, with clear chances rare for both sides. Across 90 minutes, the teams combined for only 14 shots, split evenly. Each side managed just one effort on target, reflecting a cautious approach and underlining why the tie remained goalless despite Olympiacos needing to chase the 2-0 first-leg deficit.
| Champions League match statistic | Leverkusen | Olympiacos |
|---|---|---|
| Total shots | 7 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 1 | 1 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
The stalemate marked only the second time in 16 European home fixtures that Leverkusen failed to score. The previous occasion also came in the Champions League last 16, against Bayern in the 2024-25 season. That record highlighted how rare such quiet attacking nights at BayArena had been in recent continental campaigns.
Champions League last 16 platform for Leverkusen and Jarell Quansah
There was a personal milestone for Jarell Quansah, who started his ninth Champions League match for Leverkusen. Among English players representing German clubs in the competition, only Owen Hargreaves, Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Jamie Gittens had more starts, placing Quansah in notable company for appearances.
| English players with most Champions League starts for German clubs | Starts |
|---|---|
| Owen Hargreaves | 33 |
| Harry Kane | 32 |
| Jadon Sancho | 23 |
| Jude Bellingham | 21 |
| Jamie Gittens | 13 |
| Jarell Quansah | 9 |
The former Liverpool defender reflected on the tie and the demands of facing Olympiacos. First and foremost, we are naturally delighted to have reached the last 16and it didn’t involve any more work than expected, Quansah said. We knew Olympiacos were very strong and that we would have to compete for everything again. That’s how it turned out. Now we face one of the two best teams in Europe: Bayern or Arsenal.
Leverkusen left BayArena with control of their Champions League last 16 place secured, yet also aware improvement was needed. With Bayern Munich or Arsenal providing the next test, Hjulmand and the squad carried satisfaction over progression alongside a clear message that intensity, energy and attacking sharpness must rise for the challenges ahead.