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Showdown in Leverkusen

August 27, 2014

Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen can earn a big pay day by progressing to the group phase of the Champions League on Wednesday. Roger Schmidt's crew head into the return leg with a one goal advantage over FC Copenhagen.

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Champions League Qualifikation Bayer Leverkusen - FC Copenhagen
Image: Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen made to a near perfect start this season, beating Borussia Dortmund in their opening game of the Bundesliga as well as dominating in the German Cup first round. But, the job isn't quite done yet. Especially, ahead of Wednesday's Champions League qualifying match against a motivated opponent.

"We are expecting that Copenhagen will come out and play with more risk, after losing 3-2 in the first leg," Leverkusen's new coach Roger Schmidt said, ahead of the match in Leverkusen (kickoff at 20:45 German time). "But we want to play in our own style and end our opponent's hopes with some early goals."

A win or draw against the ten-time Danish champions and the ensuing progression to the Champions League group phase could bring Leverkusen potentially more than 15 million euros ($19.77 million) income. But, this means little to the club's new coach, he says.

"The team and I want to be playing in the Champions League for sporting reasons, that is motivation enough," Schmidt said. "But I of course know about the economic significance for the club."

For the crucial game, Schmidt is expected to pick the same starting eleven who played in Leverkusen's 2-0 win over Dortmund in the first Bundesliga round. A lot, again, will be expected of the team's new playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

Völler's warning

After the nail-biting 3-2 win in the first leg of the encounter, Leverkusen are clearly in a good position to follow Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund und Schalke into the group stage of the Champions League.

"Of course we are the favorites," said Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Völler. "But we shouldn't underestimate the opponent and ruin the great starting position we are already in."

"For us it is the most important game of the first half of the season," Völler said. If successful in Wednesday's game, it would be the ninth time that the western German club progressed to the main stage of the Champions League.

Elsewhere in Europe on Wednesday, another four Champions League qualification games will be taking place. In the pick of the bunch, Arsenal will face Besiktas Istanbul in what should be a thrilling encounter in London. In Sweden, Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg will be trying to get into Europe's top competition for the seventh time, when they play Malmo.

al/hc (dpa, SID)