Olympiacos F.C. vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Olympiacos arrive in strong European form, having equalled their longest winning run in the Champions League proper with three consecutive victories. Their ability to perform in front of their own supporters has historically been a major strength. The Greek club have won the home leg in six of their seven two-legged ties in UEFA competition, demonstrating an ability to build early advantages when playing in Piraeus. That home resilience could once again be a decisive factor as they face Bayer Leverkusen in this compelling UEFA Champions League playoff clash. Before defeating Leverkusen last time out, the Greek side had gone 13 matches without a win against German clubs, recording one draw and twelve defeats during that period. Breaking that streak may prove psychologically important as they prepare to gain a first-leg advantage in this two-legged playoff tie. There is also an interesting personal connection between the squads. Olympiacos defender Panagiotis Retsos previously joined Leverkusen from the Greek side in August 2017 and went on to make 44 appearances for the Bundesliga club between 2017 and 2022. His familiarity with the German team’s culture and expectations could offer valuable insight for the hosts. A 4—2—3—1 with Ayoub El Kaabi in attack is expected against Leverkusen. Olympiacos have no injury worries ahead of this UCL playoff clash.

Bayer Leverkusen head into Wednesday’s clash following a 16th-place finish in the league phase. Their latest encounter with Olympiacos came earlier in the competition on Matchday 7, when they suffered a 2–0 loss away to the home side — a result that will undoubtedly undermine their confidence heading into this tie. Prior to that win, the only other UEFA meetings between the sides occurred during the 2002/03 Champions League group stage, when both teams held home victories. Fortunately, Leverkusen’s attacking quality and European experience could come into play here. Defender Alejandro Grimaldo has been particularly influential, scoring in three of the club’s last four Champions League matches. The German side are also approaching an important milestone — one more goal would see them reach 200 goals in the history of the competition, underlining their longstanding presence at this level. Ultimately, Leverkusen will be hoping to be the side to pick up a win when they visit Greece. A 3—4—2—1 formation with Patrik Schick in attack is expected against Olympiacos. Nathan Tella and Eliesse Ben Seghir are both ruled out of this fixture due to injury.