Olympiacos F.C. vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

After crashing out of the Greek Cup with a 2-0 defeat to PAOK last time out, Olympiacos return to UCL action knowing a similar fate could await them in Europe unless results improve quickly. The Greek giants [LLDLW] occupy 29th place in the league phase with five points [1W, 2D, 3L] and trail the top-24 cut by two points heading into their penultimate fixture, leaving little margin for error. That domestic setback brought an end to what had been an impressive run of form for José Luis Mendilibar’s side [7W, 2D, 0L], a sequence that included a morale-boosting 1-0 UCL victory over Kairat Almaty. A win would also secure their first home win of this UCL campaign, having drawn twice and lost once on home soil so far [0W, 2D, 1L]. The sides’ only previous UEFA meetings came during the 2002/03 UCL group stage, when the Thrylos ran out 6-2 winners in Greece before Bayer Leverkusen responded with a 2-0 home success. However, Olympiacos’ broader record against German opposition is bleak, as they are winless in their last 13 such encounters [0W, 1D, 12L], with their most recent victory dating back to October 2011 against Borussia Dortmund. Team news could further complicate matters for the hosts. Ayoub El Kaabi may be unavailable after featuring for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, while Pep Biel and Lorenzo Pirola are confirmed absentees. Mehdi Taremi is set to lead the line in a 4—2—3—1 formation.

Leverkusen arrive in Piraeus seeking respite from a stuttering start to 2026, having opened the new year with back-to-back Bundesliga defeats, including a narrow 1-0 loss at Hoffenheim last weekend. A return to continental action may be timely, as Kasper Hjulmand’s men look to consolidate their place inside the top 24 and potentially push toward the seeded positions in the final two league-phase rounds. After a sluggish European start [0W, 2D, 1L], Die Werkself have steadied themselves impressively, remaining unbeaten across the last three league-phase rounds [2W, 1D, 0L], including a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United, to move to 20th spot in the log with nine points [2W, 3D, 1L]. Robert Andrich is suspended, while Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Vázquez are among those ruled out. Patrik Schick is expected to start upfront in a 3—4—2—1 pattern.