Leverkusen reach Champions League last 16 with 0-0 draw against Olympiacos

Olympiakos' Gelson Martins, center, and Leverkusen's Edmond battle for the ball during the Champions League play-off second leg soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiakos Piraeus in Leverkusen, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP)

LEVERKUSEN, Germany: ‌Bayer Leverkusen endured late pressure but earned a 0-0 draw with ​visitors Olympiacos Piraeus on Tuesday to book their Champions League last-16 spot with a 2-0 aggregate win in their knockout playoff.
Leverkusen, who had won last week’s ‌first leg ‌in Greece 2-0 ​thanks ‌to ⁠Patrik ​Schick’s double, ⁠will now face either German rivals Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the round of 16 next month. The draw will take place ⁠on Friday.
The visitors were ‌disciplined and ‌gradually increased the pressure ​to go ‌close twice early in the ‌second half, with Leverkusen keeper Janis Blaswich palming a Gelson Martins shot wide at full stretch.
The ‌hosts responded with a chance of their own ⁠when ⁠Alex Grimaldo rattled the crossbar with a close-range effort in the 62nd minute but Olympiacos kept them firmly on the back foot.
The Greeks had several late chances, including when Lorenzo Scipioni flashed another shot narrowly wide, ​but Leverkusen ​held on for the draw.