Olympiacos and Bayer Leverkusen are set to clash once more in this season’s Champions League, though the pressure intensifies on Tuesday as their pivotal playoff round commences.
Under José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos climbed to an impressive 18th place in the league phase standings, securing their position with three consecutive victories, including a dominant 2–0 win against Leverkusen on Matchday 7.
Thanks to their strong finish, they now have the opportunity to advance to the Champions League round of 16, a feat they’ve only achieved three times previously this century.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen ended the league phase one point ahead of Olympiacos, also concluding with a productive run. Kasper Hjulmand’s squad triumphed in three of their last five matches, notably securing a 3–0 victory against Villarreal in Gameweek 8, which placed them 16th.
In their domestic league, the visiting team has experienced inconsistent performances; however, under the guidance of their astute Danish manager, they’ve recently hit a stride.
Below, you’ll find Sports Illustrated’s comprehensive preview for the opening leg of this crucial playoff matchup.
Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Kick-Off Details
- Venue: Piraeus, Greece
- Stadium: Stadio Geōrgios Karaiskakīs
- Date: Wednesday, February 18th
- Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT / 12 p.m. GMT
- Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)
- VAR Official: Tiago Martins (Portugal)
Historical Head-to-Head: Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Across All Competitions)
- Olympiacos: 2 victories
- Bayer Leverkusen: 1 victory
- Draws: 0
- Most Recent Encounter: Olympiacos 2–0 Bayer Leverkusen (January 20, 2026)—Champions League
Recent Performance (Across All Competitions, Last Five Matches)
|
Olympiacos |
Bayer Leverkusen |
|---|---|
|
Levadiakos 0–0 Olympiacos |
Bayer Leverkusen 4–0 St. Pauli |
|
Olympiacos 0–1 Panathinaikos |
Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–1 Bayer Leverkusen |
|
Asteras Tripolis 0–3 Olympiacos |
Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 St. Pauli |
|
AEK Athens 1–1 Olympiacos |
Eintracht Frankfurt 1–3 Bayer Leverkusen |
|
Ajax 1–2 Olympiacos |
Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 Villarreal |
Viewing Options: Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen (TV & Live Stream)
|
Country |
TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
|
United States |
Paramount+ |
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 4, discovery+, discovery+ App |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada |
|
Mexico |
TNT Sports, Max Mexico, TNT Go |
Olympiacos Squad Updates
For the home team, Theofanis Bakoulas is their sole reported injury concern, meaning Olympiacos heads into Wednesday’s first leg otherwise fully fit.
Even with inconsistent domestic results, Mendilibar is not expected to make significant lineup changes or widespread rotations when facing the Bundesliga opponent.
Mehdi Taremi, boasting 13 Champions League goals, is anticipated to spearhead Olympiacos’ attack, with Gelson Martins providing support. The seasoned Portuguese winger notably found the net in their crucial 2–1 triumph over Ajax last month.
Santiago Hezze, who scored the decisive goal in Amsterdam, is among three players who face suspension for the second leg if they receive a yellow card on Wednesday. Dani García and Taremi complete this trio.
Olympiacos Anticipated Starting XI Against Bayer Leverkusen
Olympiacos predicted lineup vs. Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Hezze, García; Rodinei, Chiquinho, Martins; Taremi.
Bayer Leverkusen Squad Updates
Currently, the visiting squad is missing goalkeeper Mark Flekken due to a knee injury. Additionally, Nathan Tella and Eliesse Ben Seghir are sidelined with ankle and foot issues, respectively.
These three players might be fit to return by the time the Round of 16 commences, should Leverkusen progress.
Hjulmand’s offensive unit has been exceptionally fluid lately, with Patrik Schick consistently scoring and Malik Tillman showcasing stellar performances in midfield. Ernest Poku offers a dynamic presence on the left flank, and Alejandro Grimaldo poses a significant danger in attack.
Lucas Vázquez’s contribution in this tournament also deserves attention, considering his past achievements with Real Madrid. Hjulmand will undoubtedly rely on the experienced Spanish player for Wednesday’s match.
Bayer Leverkusen Anticipated Starting XI Against Olympiacos
Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineup vs. Olympiacos (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Vázquez, García, Fernández, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick.
Match Forecast: Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Last month, an early goal enabled Olympiacos to adopt a defensive posture and execute counter-attacks against Leverkusen, a strategy that perfectly suited the home side. They converted both of their shots on target into goals, whereas the visitors exerted considerable effort without finding success.
Mendilibar, a coach with a Europa League title to his name, will undoubtedly prepare his team optimally for this two-legged tie. However, it’s reasonable to assume that Leverkusen will have absorbed valuable lessons from their previous loss.
Consequently, this fixture could prove to be a cautious affair, with both teams wary of making a decisive mistake. A low-scoring draw might be the most probable outcome.
Our Forecast: Olympiacos 1–1 Bayer Leverkusen