11 August 2026 at 18:30 BST, N.E.C. Nijmegen host Olympiacos in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen.
After the 0:0 in Piraeus, everything has to start all over again. And the first game was an awkward one for Olympiacos: the Greeks did not overwhelm their opponents, while N.E.C. at times looked even sharper. Now they also have to play in Nijmegen. So this will certainly not be an easy ride for the visitors.
However, we would not overrate those 0:0 draws. Olympiacos simply have more options, especially if the match drags on again. In last season's Champions League, the Greeks beat Bayer Leverkusen 2:0 at home and drew 1:1 with PSV before reaching the knockout play-offs. For José Luis Mendilibar's side, matches like these have long ceased to be the biggest night of the year.
By contrast, NEC have lost two players over the past month who carried far too much of the burden. Başar Önal joined Lille for €12.5 million. Kodai Sano moved to PSV for around €15 million, having told the coach before the first meeting that he did not want to play. He is definitely gone now, and this is not the kind of loss that can be covered by a single reshuffle.
The defence is far from perfect too. Bram Nuytinck is injured, while Perr Schuurs is not yet ready after surgery. Philippe Sandler returned and started in Piraeus, but did not complete the match, then began on the bench again against Telstar. In other words, they have noticeably less depth than the visitors.
The defeat to Telstar concerns us more than the draw in Greece reassures us. On 8 August, NEC lost 1:2 at home to the Eredivisie newcomers. Yes, motivation is always different in the league and the Champions League. But only three days have passed, whereas Olympiacos had a full week without competitive matches after the first meeting. Their Greek league campaign will not begin until 22 August.
We should not expect the hosts to charge forward immediately. At 0:0, there is no reason for them to disrupt the game themselves. It will more likely be another cautious match in which much will be decided after the break — and this is where Olympiacos' squad appeals to us far more.
At 2.48, we are prepared to back the visitors. Not because Olympiacos are bound to overwhelm them through quality — the first match showed that they are not. It is simply that, over the course of these 90 minutes, Mendilibar has more quality players capable of changing the game.
|
Dick Schreuder
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Gonzalo Alejandro Crettaz Ortega
|
gk. | 2 | 0 |
|
Clement Mutahi Bischoff
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Deveron Fonville
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Philippe Sandler
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Tobias Storm
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Darko Nejašmić
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Noé Lebreton
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Sami Ouaissa
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Tjaronn Inteff Chefren Chery
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Bryan Catharina Anna Petronella Linssen
|
fw. | 2 | 1 |
|
Dušan Tadić
|
fw. | 2 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Freek Entius
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joep Geneste
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Brayann Leanceley Christva Pereira
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Bram Johannes André Nuytinck
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Thomas Ouwejan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jamiro Gregory Monteiro Alvarenga
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Isak Hansen-Aarøen
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Willum Þór Willumsson
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Emre Mor
|
fw. | 2 | 1 |
|
Kaj Sierhuis
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Kevin Kers
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Imanol Alguacil
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Balša Popović
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lorenzo Pirola
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Panagiotis Retsos
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rodinei Marcelo de Almeida
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sopuruchukwu Bruno Onyemaechi
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daniel García Carrillo
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gelson Dany Batalha Martins
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gustavo Filipe Alves Freitas Azevedo Sá
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Santiago Hezze
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ayoub El Kaabi
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
João Pedro Ferreira Silva
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Dimitrios Stournaras
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stefan Ortega Moreno
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
David Mota Veiga Teixeira do Carmo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Emmanouil Saliakas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pablo Carmine Maffeo Becerra
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zinedin Smajlović
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christos Filis
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christos Mouzakitis
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Francisco Leonel Lima Silva Machado
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joel Roca Casals
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Konstantinos Fortounis
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lorenzo Scipioni
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
Olympiacos Piraeus
NEC Nijmegen
Olympiacos Piraeus
NEC Nijmegen
Champions League 2026/27
Olympiacos Piraeus
NEC Nijmegen
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
