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Leverkusen Eyes Champions League Group Phase

Leverkusen Eyes Champions League Group Phase

27.08.2014 14:47

Bundesliga club Leverkusen can expect a big pay day if it wins progression to the group phase of the Champions League on Wednesday. The team goes into the return leg game against FC Copenhagen with a one goal advantage. Bayer Leverkusen has got off to a near perfect start this season, beating Dortmund in the opening round of the Bundesliga as well as dominating it's first German Cup match. 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 Robert 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 that would bring with it, could bring Leverkusen

Bundesliga club Leverkusen can expect a big pay day if it wins progression to the group phase of the Champions League on Wednesday. The team goes into the return leg game against FC Copenhagen with a one goal advantage.

Bayer Leverkusen has got off to a near perfect start this season, beating Dortmund in the opening round of the Bundesliga as well as dominating it's first German Cup match. 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 Robert 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 that would bring with it, 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 is 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 Sport 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 for the seventh time to get into Europe's top competition, when they play Malmo.



al/hc (dpa, SID)



 
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