Bayer Leverkusen reached the Champions League group stage by recording an impressive 3-0 victory over Lazio at the BayArena on Wednesday evening.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Leverkusen were under pressure to take control of the match early on and they broke the deadlock when Hakan Calhanoglu fired home five minutes before the break.
The hosts then moved ahead on aggregate with an emphatic finish from Admir Mehmedi early in the second half, before Lazio defender Mauricio picked up a second yellow card with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Leverkusen took full advantage as Karim Bellarabi scored his side's third in the closing stages to wrap up a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Read below to find out how the drama unfolded.
6.45pmGood evening everyone. By the end of the night, we will know all of the teams competing in the Champions League group stage this season, but there is plenty of action to come before we can get to that point. Stick with me for live text commentary of the second leg between Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio. The Serie A side lead 1-0 after last week's win at the Stadio Olimpico.
6.47pmThe scoreline might not suggest as much, but it really was a fantastic first leg in the Italian capital. Leverkusen often looked the more dangerous of the two sides, while Lazio carried a threat on the break throughout the evening. It took a moment of magic from Keita Balde Diao to hand Lazio the victory but it is a slender advantage for Stefano Pioli's side, who have a big job ahead of them at the BayArena.
6.50pmSince losing in the first leg, Leverkusen have continued their fine form in the Bundesliga by picking up a third successive league win with a 1-0 triumph over Hannover.
Lazio started the new Serie A campaign at the weekend, and they warmed up for the second leg with a 2-1 victory against Bologna.
6.54pm
4 - @bayer04fussball won 4 of the last 5 international matches at home (10-2 goals), only loss vs Monaco in November 2014. Hope. #B04Lazio
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) August 26, 20156.57pmLazio may have started the Serie A season well, but the opening-day win did not come without a price. Lucas Biglia is expected to be out of action for around a month after picking up a calf injury. The Argentine's absence from midfield makes tonight's task even tougher.
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7.01pmLEVERKUSEN: Leno, Hilbert, Tah, Papadopoulos, Wendell, Bender, Kramer, Hakan Calhanoglu, Mehmedi, Bellarabi, Kiessling
LAZIO: Berisha, Mauricio, De Vrij, Radu, Basta, Onazi, Parolo, Lulic, Candreva, Keita, Felipe Anderson
7.04pmLeverkusen make just one change to their side from the first leg. Son-Heung min, who is reported to be on the way to Tottenham Hotspur, has been left out of the squad. Admir Mehmedi is drafted into the starting lineup, and he, Karim Bellarabi and Hakhan Calhanoglu will provide support for Stefan Kiessling.
7.07pmKeita leads the line for Lazio after his impressive performance as a half-time substitute in last week's win. Klose, Biglia and Federico Marchetti all miss out due to injury. Stefan Radu also earns a start for Steano Pioli's side.
7.11pmIf you missed the news earlier on, Son looks set to be switching the Bundesliga for North London in a deal that could be worth as much as £22m. A talented player with an eye for goal, he could be a great signing for Spurs. Will Bayer Leverkusen look for a replacement before the end of the window?
7.13pmThere is good news for Lazio, who have Ravel Morrison on the bench tonight after he picked up an injury in pre-season. The former Manchester United pressure has all the tools required to be a top-class player, but he is under pressure to succeed sooner, rather than later. It will be intriguing to see if he can make an impact later tonight.
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7.17pmCheck out the two benches below.
LEVERKUSEN: Donati, Ramalho, Boenisch, Ryu, Kresic, Kruse, Brandt
LAZIO: Cataldi, Gentiletti, Kishna, Konko, Guerrieri, Morrison, Milinkovic-Savic
7.21pmKEY PLAYER: Bayer Leverkusen will not take too many risks early on, but they will be keen gain control as early as possible. If they are to break down what is sure to be a stubborn defence, Hakan Calhanoglu will be key. He showed glimpses of his quality last week, but the hosts need him to get on the ball as much as possible to bring the likes of Bellarabi and Mehmedi into the game.
7.23pmYou will see all of the news, result and reaction from the Champions League tonight, but we also have live text commentary of Club Brugge vs. Manchester United as Louis van Gaal's side look to progress following a 3-1 win in the first leg. Both matches promise to be action-packed!
7.27pmThe beautiful BayArena has welcomed 2000 Lazio supporters this evening.
#UCL #B04Lazio
I Biancocelesti scaldano i motori sul rettangolo verde della BayArena di Leverkusen.
#AvantiLazio pic.twitter.com/E2S5foyIts
— SS Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) August 26, 20157.32pmLazio may be without Klose, Biglia and Marchetti, but Schmidt is certain that this will be a huge challenge for Leverkusen to overcome this evening.
"I think Lazio have a good enough squad to compensate for that," he told reporters. "Of course Biglia is a very important player for this team in certain situations, but I think, just as we're missing some players, Lazio will also be able to compensate for that."
7.35pmPREDICTION: It is too easy to say, but the early goal really will be vital this evening. Lazio will be able to sit back and work on the counter if they break the deadlock, while Leverkusen could make a mess of the away side's plans with an early strike. Pioli looks set to start with three central defenders after recalling Radu, but I'm not sure if it will be enough. Leverkusen to win 2-0 and go through.
7.39pmLazio have not been in the Champions League group stage since 2007. Keita's goal last week could be the defining moment in this tie, but it will take a special display to halt the hosts this evening. Kickoff is just over five minutes away.
7.42pmGreat noise coming from the home fans already. The two sides are out on the pitch at the BayArena. Just a few handshakes and the famous anthem to get out of the way now.
1 minKICKOFF Lazio get the game underway. Which one of these sides are destined for the group stage?
3 minThe early signs are positive for Leverkusen, who are pressing well and look comfortable in possession. Pioli will be aware that Lazio may have to do most of their work without the ball.
4 minCHANCE! Onazi flicks a long ball on, which causes problems when Tah miscues a clearance. Leno doesn't cover himself in glory either, but he recovers to make the block when Keita finally finds space to shoot in a congested box.
7 minSHOT! Good move from Leverkusen. Lazio fail to clear the danger from a free kick and the hosts move the ball across the edge of the box to find Bellarabi, whose low strike drifts wide of the post.
9 minKiessling is furious when a promising move is halted by the whistle, despite replays proving that the striker kept the ball in play on the left wing. Schmidt's side are looking good on the ball.
10 minLulic is a lucky boy. He plays a terrible pass straight to Hilbert, whose eagerness to capitalise rescues Lazio when he chooses to pick out Bellarabi after the winger had failed to get back onside.
12 minKiessling needs a moment to recover after landing awkwardly, but it looks like he will be fine to continue. Leverkusen asking a few more questions now.
14 minA few Leverkusen players are taking risks with the way they protest decisions. Wendell is the latest player to come close to a booking when he voices his anger at the assistant referee. The full-back had a lot of room to work with before the ball drifted out. Lazio can't afford to give him so much space.
16 minLazio may have the slender advantage, but they need to be a bit more positive. Felipe Anderson and Antonio Candreva have barely had a kick, and the visitors are just inviting the pressure with their sloppy play in possession.
17 minCLOSE! You must close down Calhanoglu. The attacking midfielder doesn't need a second initiation to shoot, and he almost breaks the deadlock with a stunning strike the just misses the top corner from 35 yards.
18 minBasta decides it's his turn to unleash a speculative shot, but his half-volley from the edge of the box is always drifting over the crossbar.
19 minSAVE! Calhanoglu is getting closer. He's simply too good for a couple of Lazio defenders on the edge of the box and a powerful effort forces Berisha into a fine save.
21 minTah is slightly fortunate to avoid a booking when he chops Keita down to halt a Lazio break, but the free kick from Anderson is poor as Bellarabi clears the danger.
24 minLazio are improving as the first half progresses. They may not be threatening the Leverkusen defence, but the visitors are defending much better and are playing higher up the pitch.
25 minOFF THE POST! Leverkusen work the corner well to create a better angle for Calhanoglu, whose excellent cross is headed against the post by Kiessling. It was an excellent header. Berisha wouldn't have had a chance.
26 minCHANCE! Calhanoglu is causing problems all over the pitch. He delivers a brilliant cross from the corner to find Papadopoulos, who can only send a diving header wide of the post.
28 minBetter from Lazio as they find Candreva in a good position and he slides a through ball to Keita, whose effort from a difficult angle is easily kept out by Leno.
30 minSAVE! Brilliant from Keita. He collects the ball with his back to goal, but turns Tah cleverly before forcing Leno into a save at the near post. Lazio want a penalty though, and replays show Tah was pulling back the forward as he unleashed the shot. There wasn't much in it, but it was silly from the defender.
31 minAnother angle of the penalty appeal shows that Keita's shot may have also struck Tah's arm. Lazio can count themselves a little bit unlucky as Bellarabi finds space at the other end to fire wide from 25 yards.
34 minLeverkusen are still enjoying more of the ball, but Lazio are making it difficult for the likes of Bellarabi and Mehmdedi to get involved on a regular basis. I would not be surprised if Schmidt was thinking about introducing the creative Julian Brandt at the break.
36 minYELLOW CARD! Leverkusen are starting to get sloppy in possession and the dangerous Keita wins another free kick for his side with a clever piece of skill to invite the foul from Bellarabi, who picks up a booking.
39 minGOAL! LEVERKUSEN 1-0 LAZIO (CALHANOGLU)
40 minIt had to be him. Leverkusen get lucky when Kiessling's pull-back bounces off a couple of defenders after Mehmedi miscues his effort. The loose ball breaks to Calhanoglu, who makes no mistake with an emphatic finish to make it 1-1 on aggregate.
42 minCalhanoglu might be the best free-kick taker in the world at the moment, but he gets his latest effort wrong when a 35-yard strike sails over the crossbar. You can't knock his confidence. Lazio must keep it tight before the break.
45 minLeverkusen are piling the pressure on the Lazio defence before the break. The visitors are dropping deeper, but there is too much space for the Leverkusen midfielders to work with. Berisha keeps the hosts out by coming out to claim the ball from a long throw.
8.31pmHALF TIME: LEVERKUSEN 1-0 LAZIO (AGG: 1-1)
8.33pmThe two sides have reached half-time in the second leg with this tie delicately poised. Entering the game with a slender advantage, Lazio were clearly hoping to frustrate Leverkusen but the hosts finally made the breakthrough when the superb Calhanoglu fired home. A Lazio goal would change everything. Leverkusen can't afford to be reckless after the break.
8.36pm
Delight for Turkish international @hakanc10 #UCL pic.twitter.com/Fj1opVKoDs
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 20158.40pmBENCH WATCH: Lazio boss Pioli will be reluctant to hit the panic button too son. As it stands, extra time would be needed but his side can take control by scoring next. Keita has shown that the visitors can hurt Leverkusen on the break, but it could even be a night for Morrison, whose creativity in the final third may be key.
Schmidt will be happy with where Leverkusen are at the moment, but he does have Brandt and Robbie Kruse to call on in the second half as the hosts go in search of at least one more goal.
8.43pmI think we could see a cagey opening to the second half. Leverkusen are likely to be asking all of the questions, but the visitors will be happy to just keep it tight. Felipe Anderson and Antonio Candreva are key. Both players have been disappointing in this tie, but the duo can create better chances on the counter if they get involved more often.
46 minKICKOFF: Leverkusen get the game back underway. We're in for an exciting 45 minutes, but there could be even more drama later tonight should the score stay the same.
47 minDreadful start to the second half from Lazio. A decent opportunity from a free kick is wasted when Candreva's corner is cleared by the first defender, before Onazi gifts the ball to Mehmedi. It's 3-on-3 for a moment, but Bellarabi fails to find a teammate with a cross from the right.
48 minGOAL! LEVERKUSEN 2-0 LAZIO (MEHMEDI)
49 minLeverkusen are on course for the group stage! Kiessling's clever run off the ball creates space for Mehmedi, and Bellarabi responds by playing the perfect pass for the attacker, who times his run well before finding the roof of the net with a stunning finish. Leverkusen lead 2-1 on aggregate, but a Lazio goal would change the tie.
51 minSAVE! Calhanoglu wants the free kick when Kiessling is fouled, but the advantage is with Leverkusen. An exchange of passes with Mehmedi sends Calhanoglu through on goal and Berisha makes a fine low save to keep him out. Leverkusen could kill off this tie very quickly!
53 minSAVE! Bender has done an excellent job in front of the back four tonight, but he almost makes an impact at the other end with a powerful 25-yard strike that Berisha pushes over the crossbar.
56 minSUB! Better from Lazio as they take their time on the ball, but Keita drifts offside to bring a promising move to an end. Pioli then makes his first change as Ricardo Kishna replaces Radu. That will see them change to a back four.
58 minA free-kick routine straight from ground is unsuccessful as Calhanoglu's cross is cleared to Wendell, whose speculative half-volley from 25 yards is easily saved by Berisha.
60 minYELLOW CARD! Kiessling has been winning the battle with Mauricio tonight and there's more disappointment for the Lazio defender when he catches him with a stray arm to pick up a booking. Leverkusen have a free kick around 30 yards from goal. Time for a Calhanoglu stunner?
62 minCalhanoglu unleashes a powerful free kick, but he is unable to beat the wall. Bender then heads wide at the near post from the corner. Lazio simply have to score the next goal.
65 minCLOSE! Excellent from Kiessling once again as he flicks on a long ball. Bellarabi should attempt to find the striker when he collects the ball in the box, but his deflected effort ends up drifting just a few inches wide of the post.
67 minYELLOW CARD! Wendell doesn't really seem to be wasting time, but the referee is not happy and the full-back picks up a booking.
68 minRED CARD! Bad goes to worse for Lazio. Kiessling beats uses his power to get the ball past the final defender and Mauricio can only bring the striker down. He can have no arguments with the second yellow card and Lazio's challenge looks set to end in disappointment at the BayArena.
70 minSUB! Strange decision from Pioli. Lazio may have lost a defender, but they need to be creating more chances rather than keeping things tight at the back. Santiago Gentiletti is off the bench to replace Anderson. The Brazilian has been poor, but it's a surprise to see Pioli remove an attacker.
71 minYELLOW CARD! Parolo is left frustrated when he picks up a booking for catching Hilbert with his arm, despite only having eyes for the ball.
73 minImportant piece of defending from De Vrij, who just stretches far enough to prevent Mehmedi from sprinting clear of the Lazio back line. Is there a late twist on the cards? Leverkusen look comfortable at the moment.
74 minYELLOW CARD! Frustration is getting the better of the Lazio players. Lulic loses the ball in midfield and he immediately brings down Bellarabi to stop the break.
75 minSUB! Mehmedi was on the fringes of the game for long spells, but his fantastic finish is sending Leverkusen through at the moment. Brandt is off the bench to replace the summer signing.
78 minBrandt attempts to make an immediate impact as he volleys an effort at goal from 25 yards, but a miscued effort is easily collected by Berisha. Leverkusen looking likely to find more goals before the final whistle.
79 minKiessling has put in a superb shift for the hosts and he wins another corner by chasing down a ball into the channel. The ball is cleared as far as Brandt, whose speculative volley doesn't come close to worrying Berisha. You can't knock the teenager's confidence.
80 minSUB! The man of the match departs as Calhanoglu receives a standing ovation on the way to being replaced by Kruse.
82 minSUB! It could be too late for him to change the tie, but Ravel Morrison is off the bench to replace Onazi.
84 minLeverkusen really should kill off this tie. Kruse finds space to collect the ball in the box, but he chooses to pull it back for Brandt and the danger is cleared. Bellarabi was certainly the better option in the six-yard box.
86 minYELLOW CARD! Keita has barely had a kick and he comes out wide to get involved, before beating Hulbert to win a free kick. Leverkusen clear the free kick and a corner to survive a rare spell of Lazio pressure.
88 minIt isn't going to be a comfortable finish. Morrison does well to play the ball into Keita's feet and he looks set to shoot from the edge of the box before being denied by a superb tackle from Papadopoulous.
88 minGOAL! LEVERKUSEN 3-0 LAZIO (BELLARABI)
89 minLeverkusen are through! Lazio have no choice but to commit men forward and the hosts take advantage to wrap up the victory on the break. Brandt is clear of the defence, but he shows great composure to leave Berisha helpless when he squares the ball to Bellarabi, who has the simple task of firing home to make it 3-1 on aggregate.
90 minSUB! Bellarabi leaves the field with the Leverkusen fans still celebrating his goal. Andre Ramalho replaces him. Three minutes of added time to be played.
90+2 minRamalho attempts to add extra gloss to the scoreline with a powerful effort from 25 yards, but Berisha makes a comfortable save as Leverkusen continue to finish strongly.
9.33pmFULL TIME: BAYER LEVERKUSEN 3-0 LAZIO - LEVERKUSEN WIN 3-1 ON AGGREGATE
9.35pmBayer Leverkusen are through to the Champions League group stage, and you certainly must say they deserve to be there. Edged out in a tight first leg last week, Schmidt's side dominated from the first whistle and scored three fine goals to record a comfortable win over Lazio, who will be very disappointed with their display tonight. Pioli's men must settle for a place in the Europa League.
9.36pmThat's all from our live coverage this evening, but make sure you keep an eye out for reaction throughout the night. Thanks for joining me. Goodnight.
