By Anna Italia
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Lazio 1 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen 
77′ Keita Balde Diao
Great start for Lazio with a positive result and keeping the dream alive in the Champions League. Lazio winning the first leg of the playoff against Bayer Leverkusen thanks to the goal by Keita Balde Diao. Lazio will play the second leg on 26 August at the Bay Arena in Leverkusen, Germany.
This victory is a good sign for Lazio ahead of the Serie A kickoff. Certainly, Lazio Coach Steano Pioli must be satisfied to see his plan working out. Moreover, good move when substituting forward Miroslav Klose with Keita in the 45th minute as he was the author of the winner goal.
In the 77th minute, Keita defeating Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno with a “bowling style” goal hitting the lower post and then the ball going inside the net! Way to go.
Here is LAZIO official starting lineup by coach Stefano Pioli:
LAZIO (4-3-3): Berisha; Basta, De Vrij, Mauricio, Lulic; Onazi, Biglia, Parolo; Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose, Felipe Anderson.
Here is BAYER LEVERKUSEN official starting lineup by coach Schmidt:
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Leno; Hilbert, Papadopoulos, Tah, Wendell; Kramer, Bender; Bellarabi, Çalhanoglu, Son; Kiessling
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Click the video to watch the highlights of the game, Lazio 1 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday 18 August 2015 at the Olim;pico di Roma Stadium in Rome, Italy. Champions League Playoff, first leg
Photos courtesy of facebook.com/SSLazioOfficialPage
Lazio coach Stefano Pioli giving instructions during the game
Lazio forward Miroslav Klose in action
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Lazio defender Senad Lulic
Keita celebrating after his goal against Bayer Leverkusen
UEFA Champions League Playoff, First Leg
Lazio 1 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Olimpico di Roa Stadium
Rome, Italy
20:45
| Referee | Jonas Eriksson (SWE) |
| Assistant referee | Mathias Klasenius (SWE) , Daniel Wärnmark (SWE) |
| Additional assistant referee | Stefan Johannesson (SWE) , Markus Strömbergsson (SWE) |
| Fourth official | Daniel Gustavsson (SWE) |
| UEFA Delegate | Christian Mutschler (SUI) |
| UEFA Referee observer | Kaj Natri (FIN) |
Goals: 77′ Keita Balde Diao
Attendance: 40,000 approximately
Official formations – lineups
LAZIO (4-3-3): Berisha; Basta, De Vrij (89′ Gentiletti), Mauricio, Lulic; Onazi (53′ Milinkovic-Savic), Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Klose (45′ Keita), Felipe Anderson.
Subs not used: (Guerrieri, Konko, Cataldi, Kishna).
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Leno; Hilbert, Papadopoulos, Tah, Wendell; Kramer, Bender; Bellarabi, Çalhanoglu (84′ Brandt), Son (45′ Mehmedi); Kiessling (94′ Kruse).
Subs not used: (Kresic, Donati, Ramalho, Aranguiz).
Coach: Schmidt
Booked: Kiessling (B.), Wendell (B.), Mauricio (L), Papadopoulos (B.), Milinkovic (L), Leno (B.)