Leverkusen 0-0 Olympiacos Player Ratings: Leverkusen Qualify for the Round of 16 After Tense 0-0 Draw

A tense and tactical battle in the Champions League knockout play-offs saw Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Olympiacos F.C. fight to a goalless draw. The match was a real chess game. Neither side wanted to give an inch. It was a classic case of defensive resilience trumping attacking flair.

Leverkusen will feel they should have won it. They had the better opportunities throughout the game. The most significant moment came when Alejandro Grimaldo rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike in the second half. It was a moment that had us off our seats, a genuine flash of quality in a tight affair.

Olympiacos F.C., however, defended with incredible heart and organization. They came with a clear game plan to frustrate the home side, and they executed it perfectly. While they offered little going forward, a save from a Gelson Martins shot was their only real highlight. This result leaves the tie perfectly poised for the second leg in what promises to be another intriguing encounter. Here are Sportsdunia's Leverkusen vs Olympiacos player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Both sides prioritised structure and discipline, resulting in a tactical stalemate.
• Grimaldo’s thunderous effort off the crossbar was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock.
• Olympiacos executed their away game plan effectively, leaving everything to play for in the second leg.

Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Olympiacos

Here are the Leverkusen player ratings vs Olympiacos.

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 6.5: Had one crucial save to make from Gelson Martins and he did his job well. Looked a bit nervy with his feet, especially one error that led to a shot. His distribution was a mixed bag, often putting his team under unnecessary pressure. But when called upon for his primary job, he delivered.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 7.0: A really composed and solid performance from the young defender. He was strong in the air and won the majority of his duels. We noticed his positioning was excellent, making nine vital clearances. He barely put a foot wrong all evening.

Robert Andrich - 7.0: Playing in a deeper role, the captain was a commanding presence. He marshalled the backline effectively and made several important clearances. His physicality was a problem for the Olympiacos attackers. He even got forward for a corner and missed a half-chance.

Edmond Tapsoba - 8.0: What a performance. From our perspective, he was a defensive collosus and almost faultless. He read the game magnificently, making a staggering 14 clearances and winning almost every tackle and duel. He was simply unbeatable today, a true wall at the back. Definitely one of the best players on the pitch.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was the biggest creative spark in a game that desperately needed one. Defensively he was superb, with four tackles and four interceptions. Going forward, he created two chances and was desperately unlucky to see his fierce shot cannon back off the woodwork. A complete performance.

Lucas Vázquez - 6.5: A typically hard-working display on the right flank. He was diligent with his defensive duties and tried to get forward. However, his final ball was often lacking, and he struggled to create anything meaningful before an unfortunate injury ended his night.

Aleix García - 7.5: The conductor in midfield. He controlled the tempo of the game for Leverkusen, spraying passes around with ease and intelligence. He created two key passes and his through balls were a constant danger. A very classy and effective performance.

Exequiel Palacios - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from the Argentine. He kept possession moving with neat and tidy passing. He didn't offer a huge threat in the final third but his work rate and ball retention were important for the team's structure. Solid, if unspectacular.

Forwards

Jonas Hofmann - 6.0: He had an early shot on target that was saved, but that was about it. We expected more from a player of his quality. He drifted in and out of the game and failed to impose himself on the Olympiacos defence before being substituted.

Patrik Schick - 5.0: A really disappointing night for the big striker. He was presented with two big chances and failed to convert either, looking very rusty in front of goal. His touch was off and he lost the physical battle with the defenders. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.0: The youngster showed some bright sparks and a willingness to work hard. However he struggled to find space and get involved in the game. It was a difficult night against a very organised defence, and he was hooked early in the second half.

Substitutes

Ernest Poku - 6.5: Made an instant impact, setting up Grimaldo for the chance that hit the bar. Looked lively and direct.

Ezequiél Fernández - N/A: Came on late and didn't have enough time to influence proceedings.

Montrell Culbreath - N/A: Introduced with Fernández and had little opportunity to make a mark.

Arthur - N/A: An injury replacement for Vázquez, helped see the game out.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 6.5: His team was defensively excellent and controlled possession for large periods. However, they seemed to lack a clear plan to break down a stubborn opponent. His substitutions were logical but ultimately couldn't find the key to unlock the Olympiacos defence and secure a first-leg lead.

Olympiacos Player Ratings vs Leverkusen

Check out the Olympiacos player ratings against Leverkusen.

Goalkeeper

Konstantinos Tzolakis - 7.0: Made a very important save early in the match to deny Hofmann. His distribution was quite poor, leading to a high number of possession losses. Despite the shakiness with his feet, his shot-stopping was reliable and earned his team a valuable clean sheet.

Defenders

Francisco Ortega - 6.5: A steady performance at left-back. He was comfortable on the ball and passed it with high accuracy. However, he struggled in his one-on-one duels. He stuck to his defensive tasks diligently without offering too much of an overlap.

Lorenzo Pirola - 7.0: Looked very solid and composed at the heart of the defence. His passing out from the back was excellent, and he stood up well to the physical challenge of Schick. Picked up a booking, but it didn't detract from a disciplined and strong display.

Rodinei - 6.5: An energetic but erratic performance. He attempted a huge number of crosses, but his delivery was often wayward. Lost possession far too many times, which was frustrating to watch. Defensively, he made some key interceptions, but it was a very mixed bag.

Panagiotis Retsos - 7.0: The captain was immense. He led a fantastic defensive effort, showing great anticipation with two interceptions and seven ball recoveries. He was a calming influence at the back, organizing his unit to perfection to frustrate the home side.

Midfielders

Gelson Martins - 6.0: Had the visitors' best chance of the match, but his shot was well saved. He looked like their most likely source of a goal, but his performance was frustrating. He lost possession far too often and was caught offside twice, killing promising attacks.

Dani García - 7.5: An absolutely brilliant midfield performance. What stood out to us was his incredible reading of the game, resulting in five interceptions. He was a destroyer in the middle of the park, breaking up play and protecting his back four superbly.

Chiquinho - 6.0: A neat and tidy performance without much real impact. He kept the ball moving but rarely ventured into dangerous areas. Had one speculative shot from distance, but was otherwise very quiet before being substituted in the second half.

Santiago Hezze - 7.0: A real workhorse in the engine room. He covered an immense amount of ground, recovered the ball six times, and used it intelligently. It wasn't a flashy performance, but his discipline and energy were crucial to his team's defensive structure.

Christos Mouzakitis - 7.0: Another impressive display from a young midfielder. He looked very comfortable on the Champions League stage, creating two chances for his teammates. His passing was progressive, and he was always looking to get on the ball.

Forwards

Mehdi Taremi - 6.0: A difficult evening for the striker. He was isolated for large parts of the game and struggled to get into it. He did create one good chance for Martins but was otherwise crowded out by the Leverkusen defence. You expected a bit more from him.

Substitutes

Ayoub El Kaabi - 6.0: Replaced Taremi but offered a similar lack of threat up front.

André Luiz - 6.0: Had a couple of efforts from range but didn't trouble the goalkeeper.

Lorenzo Scipioni - N/A: Not on long enough to be rated.

Bruno Onyemaechi - N/A: A very late change.

Manager

J. Mendilibar Etxebarria - 7.5: Masterminded a perfect away performance in Europe. His team was incredibly well-drilled, disciplined, and resilient. They frustrated a superior team and came away with a goalless draw, which is a fantastic result. A tactical triumph for the Spanish coach.

Man of the Match

Alejandro Grimaldo was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Patrik Schick was the worst performer.