GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Bayer Leverkusen prepare for their Champions League match against Real Sociedad
Record ID:
859251
GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Bayer Leverkusen prepare for their Champions League match against Real Sociedad
- Title: GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Bayer Leverkusen prepare for their Champions League match against Real Sociedad
- Date: 1st October 2013
- Summary: LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY (OCTOBER 1, 2013) (REUTERS) BAYER LEVERKUSEN FLAG FLYING VARIOUS OF PLAYERS ON PITCH AHEAD OF TRAINING VARIOUS OF TRAINING VARIOUS OF EXERCISES PLAYERS ON PITCH COACH SAMI HYPPIA WATCHING PLAYERS RUNNING PLAYERS ON PITCH HYPPIA AND MIDFIELDER STEFAN REINARTZ ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYER LEVERKUSEN MIDFIELDER STEFAN REINARTZ SAYING: "I expect an attacking game with a Spanish team which attacks a lot. I hope it will be sold out. I think last time we entered the Champions League it was not entirely sold out, so I hope it's sold out this time. Also, I expect a good game from two good teams." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (German) REINARTZ SAYING: "To be quite honest, I don't feel huge pressure, but rather, I'm looking forward to the game. It's a home game and we were waiting for it for a long time to get such a possibility. Now we want to make use of it." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYER LEVERKUSEN COACH SAMI HYPPIA SAYING: "The players are good technically and Sociedad has a very good defence as a team. That's one thing that could get a little difficult for us, but we will try everything to score goals. We must be very defensive against this technical game." REPORTERS
- Embargoed: 16th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAMSXW9N3MWFNAK3UF6YWSXJMI
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Bayer Leverkusen expect Real Sociedad to prove tough in both attack and defence in Wednesday's (October 2) Champions League Group A match.
Leverkusen have made a strong start in the German league, but lost their opening European Group game 4-2 to Manchester United and are third in the table behind the British side and leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.
Sociedad lost their opening match 2-0 at home to Shakhtar.
Leverkusen Midfielder Stefan Reinartz on Tuesday appeared more confident about facing Sociedad.
"I expect an attacking game with a Spanish team which attacks a lot. I hope it will be sold out. I think last time we entered the Champions League it was not entirely sold out, so I hope it's sold out this time. Also, I expect a good game from two good teams," said Reinartz.
He said that he felt no pressure and was looking forward to a good game.
"To be quite honest, I don't feel huge pressure, but rather, I'm looking forward to the game. It's a home game and we were waiting for it for a long time to get such a possibility. Now we want to make use of it," said the midfielder.
Leverkusen's Finnish coach, Sami Hyppia, said his side might have trouble penetrating the Sociedad defence.
"The players are good technically and Sociedad has a very good defence as a team. That's one thing that could get a little difficult for us, but we will try everything to score goals. We must be very defensive against this technical game," said Hyppia.
Leverkusen are third in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and have won their past nine home games.
Their last appearance in the Champions League two seasons ago ended in the group stage. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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