On February 18, Olympiacos will face Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off. This crucial matchup will take place at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece, beginning at 21:00 CET.
Match Overview
- Date: February 18
- Time: 21:00 CET
- Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus
- Fixture: Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Recent Performances
In their last league encounter, Olympiacos secured a 2-0 victory against Leverkusen. Goals from Costinha and Mehdi Taremi were decisive.
Historically, Leverkusen has struggled in Greece. They have not won in four matches, recording three losses and one draw since their 1993 Cup Winners’ Cup victory against Panathinaikos.
Team Form
- Olympiacos Form: DLWDWW (most recent results)
- Latest Result: 0-0 draw against Levadiakos on February 14
- Leverkusen Form: WDWWWW
- Latest Result: 4-0 victory over St. Pauli on February 14
Possible Line-Ups
| Team | Line-Up |
|---|---|
| Olympiacos | Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Hezze, García; Rodinei, Chiquinho, Gelson Martins; Taremi |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Lucas Vázquez, García, Fernández, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick |
Coaches’ Thoughts
José Luis Mendilibar, the Olympiacos coach, expressed confidence about his team’s performance despite a challenging February. He highlighted the importance of each match in the knockout stage.
On the other side, Leverkusen’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, acknowledged their strong league performance and emphasized the unpredictable nature of knockout games.
Looking Ahead
This upcoming clash promises to be an exciting contest. Will Olympiacos maintain their recent form against a resilient Leverkusen team? Fans can follow live coverage and updates on El-Balad.
