The Champions League playoff first leg between Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadio Olimpico remains goalless at the break.

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The visitors started the game more comfortably as Karim Bellarabi proved a handful down the right flank, but the Biancocelesti countered through a number of chances from Senad Lulic.

Both sides were fairly even in terms of possession and attacking endeavour in the early stages, though Stefan Kiessling came close for Leverkusen with a stinging 20-yard drive just after the quarter-hour mark.

Bellarabi was next to threaten for the visitors 23 minutes in when he marauded in from the left and beat his markers before taking an extra touch and unleashing a shot that flew just high of the target.

There was a burst of action just before the half-hour mark when Lars Bender unleashed a thunderous effort from the edge of the box which cannoned against the left post, before Miroslav Klose struck the woodwork a minute later.

Nevertheless neither side could break the deadlock come the half-time whistle, with the tie on a knife-edge a quarter of the way through.