Lazio will have to beat German opposition if they are to progress to the Champions League Group Stage for the first time since 2007.
Stefano Pioli’s side will play the first leg at home at the Stadio Olimpico followed by the second leg at the BayArena in Leverkusen a week later.
Both teams last faced each other back in the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League group stage where both games finished 1-1.
Champions League Play-Off Draw
Champions Route
Astana (KAZ) vs APOEL (CYP)
Skënderbeu (ALB) vs Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Celtic (SCO) vs Malmö (SWE)
Basel (SUI) vs M. Tel-Aviv (ISR)
BATE (BLR) vs Partizan (SRB)
League Route
Lazio (ITA) vs Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Manchester United (ENG) vs Club Brugge (BEL)
Sporting CP (POR) vs CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Rapid Wien (AUT) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Valencia (ESP) vs Monaco (FRA)
Back in 2007-2008 Champions’ League Group Stages, Lazio defeated German opposition Werder Bremen 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Stefano Pioli, Lazio coach: UEFA.com
Ahead of the draw we were fully aware that we were going to face a very good side in the play-offs. I know Leverkusen very well, I know how they play and I know their coach. Last season they played very well in the UEFA Champions League. We need to prepare in the best possible way for this tie in order to be competitive. However our group is very solid and united, I’m sure the most experienced players will help the others for this difficult tie.
Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen coach: UEFA.com
It is a big advantage to play the return leg at home. The games against Lazio have the character of a round of 16 tie. We will now prepare for Lazio and analyse the team very well. Then I am confident that we have every chance of asserting ourselves. [Miroslav Klose] is still incredibly dangerous and can do a lot of damage from almost nothing.
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