Tues 4th August – 19:00 BST
UEFA Champions League
Olympiakos vs. N.E.C.
N.E.C. Nijmegen head into uncharted territory on Tuesday evening as they embark on the biggest adventure in their club’s history. For the first time ever, the Nijmegen side have reached the Champions League qualifiers, and their debut comes against one of Europe’s seasoned competitors.
Olympiakos are not only vastly experienced, with 374 European matches in their history, but also reached the first knockout round of last season’s Champions League. Backed by one of the most intimidating atmospheres on the continent, the Greek giants will look to their fortress, the Karaiskakis Stadium, as Dick Schreuder’s men arrive with aim to cause a shock writes Will Burns.
Olympiakos
The preparation heading into this one, has been far from perfect for coach José Luis Mendilibar and his side’s pre-season has been far from perfect. They began their warm-up programme with two wins and a draw, but momentum quickly evaporated as they slipped into three consecutive defeats — including losses to Eredivisie sides Ajax and AZ Alkmaar. The 3–2 defeat to AZ did end an 180‑minute goal drought so at least they have that to be thankful for.
The worrying thing for the Greek has been their obvious defensive fragility. Even in their victories over Rakow (2–1) and Fortuna Sittard (3–1), and the draw with Leuven (1–1), they leaked goals. They failed to keep a single clean sheet throughout pre-season, leaving their back line looking vulnerable ahead of the NEC visit. For a club with ambitions of returning to the Champions League group stage, this is a concern that cannot be ignored.
Last season, Olympiakos scraped through the group phase on the final match day at Ajax’s expense before falling to Bayer Leverkusen in the first knockout round. The expectation internally is clear: reaching the group stage again is the minimum requirement. This two‑legged tie marks the first step in that mission, and facing opponents with no prior experience at this level only heightens the pressure on the Greek side to deliver.
In terms of personnel, Olympiacos wrapped up their preparations knowing that Mendilibar will be without Santiago Esse, who remains sidelined through injury and did not train, while Lorenzo Scipioni has recovered and is available for selection.
Other absences from the squad is Giorgos Masouras. The Greek international, who had been expected to depart for Saudi Arabia, has not been registered for the qualifiers. Mendilibar had used Masouras as a central attacking option during pre‑season, and with Roman Yaremchuk, Mehdi Taremi and Clayton all omitted from the squad. Moroccan international Ayoub El Kaabi stands as the only recognised striker available for the opening leg.
NEC Nijmegen
It seems like an eternity when NEC’s celebrated a remarkable their best ever finish in third last season in the Eredivisie. Their pre-season results ahead of their European debut have been mixed at best. Schreuder’s side won just two of their seven warm-up matches, losing four, including back-to-back defeats to Elversberg and Sevilla. Their final test before travelling to Greece ended in disappointment at a sold-out Goffertstadion, highlighting the inconsistency that has lingered throughout the summer.
What has remained constant, however, is NEC’s attacking identity. Schreuder’s men conceded in all seven friendlies and scored in six, mirroring the high-risk equals high-reward style that defined their last years’ Eredivisie campaign. With 77 league goals, NEC were the second-most prolific side in the division behind PSV Eindhoven (101), but their 53 goals conceded were the highest among the top three — a stark contrast to PSV (45) and second place Feyenoord (44).
This blend of front-footed football and defensive openness was central to NEC’s historic rise, and there is little indication that Schreuder plans to abandon it now. Their pre-season performances suggest that the Nijmegen outfit will carry that same approach into the new campaign, likely guaranteeing entertainment — and opportunities — at both ends of the pitch in Piraeus.
NEC’s squad, however, is not at full strength. Vito van Crooij, Koki Ogawa, Perr Schuurs, Willum Thor Willumsson, Adam Tahaui and Yassin Moslih are either injured or not included in the squad for the first leg. Ogawa’s absence is particularly notable after his eight-goal Eredivisie season. Even so, NEC can still call upon the experienced duo of Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen, who combined for 21 league goals last term and remain key figures in Schreuder’s attacking setup.
During Monday’s press conference, Schreuder confirmed that starting centre‑back Philipp Sandler is fit to play on Tuesday. Sandler trained normally at the Faliraki Stadium and is expected to start. Schreuder also made clear that he did not attend any of Olympiacos’ pre‑season friendlies in the Netherlands, downplaying their relevance: “Friendlies mean nothing. When the real games begin, a team like this performs. That also depends on the coach. We know it’s going to be a difficult night.”
NEC were represented by Surinamese midfielder Tjaronn Chery, who famously scored in Maccabi Haifa’s 4–0 win over Olympiacos in Piraeus back in 2022. Chery spoke positively about the occasion: “It’s great to be playing in the Champions League qualifiers. We had a good season and we deserve to be here. Nervous? No, we’re looking forward to it. I’ve never suffered from anxiety, but everyone handles it differently.”
As reported by the Dutch media, around 1,300 supporters have travelled to Greece — eager to witness their club’s first European match in 17 years.
Analysis
So yes, both sides enter this tie with defensive concerns. Olympiakos have struggled to keep opponents out throughout pre-season, while NEC’s open, attacking style naturally leaves gaps that stronger sides can exploit. This combination points toward a match where chances should appear at both ends.
Olympiakos hold the clear advantage in European experience and will be buoyed by a home crowd known for its intensity. The Karaiskakis Stadium has long been one of Europe’s most hostile venues, and NEC’s players will be stepping into an environment unlike anything they have faced before.
NEC’s absences further tilt the balance toward the hosts, but Schreuder’s side have shown repeatedly that they can score against stronger opposition. Their unpredictability, both positive and negative, makes them a dangerous opponent in early qualifying rounds, where rhythm and sharpness are often still developing.
Prediction
Olympiakos go into the first leg as deserved favourites, backed by their European pedigree, home advantage and the expectation that comes with playing in one of the continent’s most intimidating stadiums. NEC, however, carry enough attacking threat — and Olympiakos have shown enough defensive vulnerability — to suggest this tie could be far more competitive than the gap in experience implies. A high‑tempo, open contest feels likely, with chances at both ends.
Both Teams to Score with an Olympiakos win looks an excellent angle at 3.25 with Bet365, and it’s the outcome that makes the most sense based on both sides’ profiles. From NEC’s perspective, keeping the scoreline to something manageable — a 2–1 or even a 3–2 — would give them a genuine opportunity to turn the tie around back in Nijmegen next week.
⚽️ BET: Olympiakos to win & Both Teams to Score
💷 1pt
Best Odds: 3.25 at Bet365
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