The first Champions League 2025/26 play-off tie between Olympiacos Piraeus (Greece) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany) will take place on 18 February at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. Olympiacos Piraeus vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos Piraeus made a poor start to the league phase, taking just two points from their first five matchdays. However, a run of three straight wins helped the team finish 11th overall. It is worth noting that the club have reached the group stage for the first time since the 2013/14 season. Jose Luis Mendilibar's side have looked modest in attack: among all the teams in the play-offs, only Galatasaray (9) and Monaco (8) have scored fewer than the Greeks (10). At the same time, 10 of the 14 goals conceded by the club came in matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- The team have scored in six Champions League matches in a row.
- On home soil in this tournament, the club have failed to win five of their last six matches (three draws, two defeats).
- In five of their previous seven home games in the Champions League, the club have not conceded more than one goal.
Potential Olympiacos Piraeus Lineup (4-5-1)
Konstantinos Tzolakis – Rodinei, Giulian Biancone, Panagiotis Retsos, Bruno Onyemaechi – Andre Luis, Santiago Hezze, Chiquinho, Christos Mouzakitis, Gelson Martins – Ayoub El Kaabi.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen finished 16th in the league phase. The team picked up 12 points (three wins, three draws), but had a negative goal difference of 13:14. That figure was heavily affected by a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (2:7), while Leverkusen also kept three clean sheets, with only six opponents recording more shutouts. We should recall that last season Bayer 04 Leverkusen avoided the play-offs, but were knocked out in the round of 16 in a tie against Bayern Munich.
- No more than three goals were scored in five of the Germans' last seven Champions League matches.
- Away from home, the team have failed to win six of their previous eight matches in this tournament (two draws, four defeats).
- In five of their last seven away games in the Champions League, Leverkusen have conceded at least twice.
Potential Bayer 04 Leverkusen Lineup (3-4-3)
Yanis Blaswich – Robert Andrich, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade – Alex Grimaldo, Ignacio Fernandez, Aleix Garcia, Arthur – Malik Tillman, Patrik Schick, Ernest Poku.
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and midfielders Eliesse Ben-Seghir and Nathan Tella are injured.
Referee
Joao Pinheiro (Portugal)
Matches – 11 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 40;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 1;
Fouls per match on average – 21;
Penalties – 9%.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Match Prediction
The sides met on matchday seven in the current edition of the tournament. Olympiacos Piraeus were stronger at home (2:0), although the Germans had the edge in terms of the overall play. We think Jose Luis Mendilibar's side would not mind a similar scenario this time, too. Especially as Olympiacos Piraeus have avoided defeat in five of their last seven Champions League matches on home soil (two wins, three draws). In addition, it is worth noting that in six of their seven two-legged ties in UEFA competitions, the Greeks won the home leg.
Leverkusen caused a major surprise in the Champions League 2025/26 by beating Manchester City away from home. However, that victory was one of just two wins the team have managed in their previous eight away matches in this tournament (two draws, four defeats). One of the reasons for such results has been problems in defence. On the road in the Champions League, Bayer 04 Leverkusen have conceded at least twice in five of their last seven matches. The Greeks, meanwhile, have shown the ability to make the most of even a limited number of chances.
Prediction: Olympiacos Piraeus Draw No Bet
