Tickets for NEC Nijmegen - Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League qualifiers at Goffertstadion in Nijmegen

NEC Nijmegen and Olympiakos Piraeus ahead of a decisive evening at De Goffert

Goffertstadion will host the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round between NEC Nijmegen and Olympiakos Piraeus on 11 August 2026. The latest club announcement lists kick-off at 19:30 local time in Nijmegen, which is important for travellers because earlier announcements mentioned 19:00. The first match will be played in Piraeus on 4 August, so the result from Greece will completely determine the tone of the return leg.

For NEC, this is a historic first appearance in the qualifiers for Europe's strongest club competition. Olympiakos arrives with far more experience of playing matches in which one mistake can change an entire season. The winner of the tie advances to the final play-off round and remains one obstacle away from the league phase.

At the time this guide was prepared, the first match had not yet been played. It is therefore impossible to know in advance whether NEC will have to chase a deficit in Nijmegen, defend a lead or begin from a completely level position. That is precisely the detail that should be checked before travelling, together with the final line-ups and the players' status.

Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters.

Why this tie is a major step for NEC

NEC finished the 2025/26 season in third place in the Dutch league, the club's best-ever finish in that competition. Dick Schreuder's team collected 59 points with 16 wins, 11 draws and seven defeats. Its attacking production particularly stood out: NEC scored 77 goals, fewer only than champions PSV, but conceded 53, more than the other two teams at the top of the table.

Those numbers describe Schreuder's football well. NEC wants to play forward, involve more players between the lines and create numerical advantages through the wide positions. The price of that approach is sometimes space behind the first pressing line and the need to defend large open areas. Against a team featuring Ayoub El Kaabi, Gelson Martins, Chiquinha and Rodinei, every lost midfield duel can quickly become a dangerous transition.

The preparation period was not calm. NEC recorded two wins in seven matches, lost four times and returns to Nijmegen after defeats against Elversberg and Sevilla. The team conceded in all seven preseason matches, but scored in six. That means the attacking mechanisms exist, although defensive stability remains an open question.

Between the first and second European matches, NEC opens its domestic season against Telstar on 8 August. Schreuder must therefore distribute minutes, preserve the energy of his key players and simultaneously avoid losing rhythm. Three matches in eight days early in the season represent a serious test for a squad that is still learning new relationships.

Players who can guide NEC

The most high-profile summer signing is Dušan Tadić. The experienced Serbian forward signed a contract until the summer of 2028 and brings control of the ball between the lines, composure in the final third and the ability to change the angle of an attack with a single pass. His role does not have to be that of a traditional winger. In a projected starting line-up, he can operate close to Tjaronn Chery, behind the central striker.

Chery and Bryan Linssen scored 21 goals between them during the previous league season. Chery can slow down an attack, retain the ball under pressure and attack space with a shot from distance. Linssen provides off-the-ball movement, runs towards the near post and experience of playing in high-intensity matches.

Kodai Sano and Darko Nejašmić are important in midfield. Their task will not be limited to distribution. They will have to close passing lanes towards Chiquinha and prevent Olympiakos from moving the ball easily towards El Kaabi. Philippe Sandler could be crucial for the first pass from the back line, especially if the visitors position their centre-forward and wingers high up the pitch.

Vito van Crooij, Koki Ogawa, Perr Schuurs, Willum Þór Willumsson, Adam Tahaui and Yassin Moslih were not listed in the squad for the first match in Piraeus. Ogawa's status is attracting particular attention after his eight league goals last season. That does not automatically mean that all of them will also miss the return leg, so the final list of available players should be checked immediately before the match.

• Dušan Tadić - creativity, set pieces and the final pass.
• Tjaronn Chery - shooting from outside the penalty area and play between the lines.
• Bryan Linssen - movement inside the penalty area and pressure on the back line.
• Kodai Sano - ball progression and covering space after possession is lost.
• Philippe Sandler - defensive organisation and build-up play from deep.

Olympiakos brings experience and a powerful attacking core

Olympiakos reached the knockout phase play-offs of the Champions League last season, so European evenings of this intensity are nothing new to the club. Coach José Luis Mendilibar has led the team since February 2024 and has a squad combining experience, physical strength and enough individual quality to punish poor positioning.

The main finishing point of the attack is Ayoub El Kaabi. The Moroccan striker scored 18 league goals last season, while Mehdi Taremi added ten. Both returned after representing their national teams at the 2026 World Cup. El Kaabi has already scored in the 3-2 preseason defeat against AZ Alkmaar and remains a player who does not need many touches to finish an attack.

Behind the striker, Olympiakos can use Chiquinha, Gelson Martins, Jota Silva, Kostas Fortounis and Rodinei, depending on the formation and plan. Defensive options include Panagiotis Retsos, Lorenzo Pirola, David Carmo, Francisco Ortega and Pablo Maffeo. That depth gives Mendilibar the option to change the height of the press and the profile of the wide defenders without completely changing the structure.

The Greek club has not entered the competitive part of the season in ideal form either. After wins against Raków and Fortuna Sittard and a draw with Leuven, Olympiakos lost three consecutive preseason matches - against Ajax, Royal Antwerp and AZ Alkmaar. It did not keep a clean sheet during preseason. Yusuf Yazıcı has been sidelined for an extended period because of a knee injury.

Those defeats should not be interpreted as proof of weakness, but they show that the visiting defence is not yet fully coordinated either. NEC will particularly look for space behind the wide defenders when Olympiakos attacks with many players. If the home side can find Tadić or Chery quickly enough after winning the ball, it can force the visitors to run back towards their own goal.

Tactical points worth watching

The projected NEC line-up suggests a system with three players in the back line, wide wing-backs and two creative players behind Linssen. Olympiakos may line up in a 4-2-3-1, with El Kaabi at the top and Chiquinha and quick players around him. These are projections, not confirmed line-ups.

• The first 15 minutes - the result of the first match will determine whether NEC immediately increases the number of players in attack.
• The space behind NEC's wide players - Olympiakos will try to find El Kaabi and the wingers quickly after winning the ball.
• Tadić and Chery's duel with the visiting midfield - the home side needs to receive the ball between the lines, not rely only on crosses from wide areas.
• Set pieces - in a tight two-legged tie, one corner or free kick can have more value than a long period of possession.
• Energy management - NEC plays a league match three days before the return leg, while Olympiakos begins its domestic league campaign later in August.

A previous meeting that provides only a limited picture

The clubs met in a preseason match on 27 July 2024. Olympiakos won 2-0 in Nijmegen, with Gelson Martins scoring the opening goal. It was a friendly match played at a completely different stage of preparation and with different line-ups, so the result has little predictive value.

Nevertheless, that match is a reminder of one important point: Olympiakos can be very dangerous when NEC makes a mistake while playing the ball out from the back. Over the two legs, the home side will have to distinguish between moments for a risky vertical pass and moments when it is safer to retain possession and reset the attack.

Goffertstadion: a compact ground with stands close to the action

Goffertstadion is located at Stadionplein 1, 6532 AJ Nijmegen, inside Goffertpark. It opened in 1939 and was extensively renovated in 1999. Its current capacity is 12,650 spectators following the addition of 150 pitch-side seats. The stadium has 502 standing places in supporter section 080/J and an away section for 500 visitors.

The compact capacity can be an advantage for NEC. When the stadium is full, there are no large empty areas to disperse the sound, and the stands are close enough for the pressure to be felt during every duel and set piece. For Olympiakos, it will not be the largest stadium in which the team has played, but it will be different from the broad and noisy surroundings in Piraeus.

Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.

How to get to the stadium

The railway is the simplest option for many travellers. Nijmegen Goffert station is within walking distance, and the club states that the walk to the stadium takes no more than 15 minutes. Nijmegen can be reached by intercity trains from directions such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Utrecht, Arnhem, 's-Hertogenbosch and Zwolle, followed by a local train, bus or taxi.

Special parking rules apply on matchdays. Visitors without a dedicated parking permit should not expect to find a space immediately next to the stadium. The club recommends parking near Nijmegen Goffert station or in the surrounding neighbourhoods and continuing on foot.

• Address - Stadionplein 1, 6532 AJ Nijmegen.
• Train - get off at Nijmegen Goffert station and allow no more than 15 minutes for the walk.
• Car - check the temporary rules and do not rely on parking next to the entrance.
• Arrival - leave enough time for the ticket check, security screening and locating your section.
• Entrances - the confirmed opening time for this return leg has not yet been announced; for the recent match against Sevilla, the gates opened one hour before kick-off, but a separate club announcement should be followed for Olympiakos.

Nijmegen before and after the match

Nijmegen presents itself as the oldest city in the Netherlands, with Roman roots and a centre beside the River Waal. The stadium is not in the historic centre, but south of it, in the large green area of Goffertpark. This makes it easy to choose between staying in the city centre and travelling towards the stadium later.

Travellers arriving early can walk through the centre, along the banks of the Waal or through the parks, and then head towards Goffert by public transport. Evening departures should be checked in advance after the match, especially if the journey continues towards another Dutch city or an airport. Extra time and penalties could delay departure from the stadium significantly beyond the usual end of a league match.

What to expect in the stands

The home supporters are attending a match that could become one of the most important European evenings in the club's history. Third place in the previous season raised expectations, Tadić's arrival further increased interest, and the limited capacity means that a large part of the stadium will consist of regular NEC followers.

The away section has 500 places, so a concentrated group of Olympiakos supporters can be expected. The atmosphere will depend on the first result: an early chance for the home side could quickly lift the entire stadium, while a goal for the visitors could force NEC to play more openly and take greater risks.

It is worth securing tickets before matchday.

Supporters should bring documents and tickets in the form required by the organiser, check which items are permitted and follow the latest traffic instructions. It is particularly important not to rely on general information from other matches, because European fixtures may have different entrance zones, checks and movement rules around the stadium.

Sources:
- NEC Nijmegen - the schedule of the tie, the return-leg kick-off time, the 2025/26 season table, squad, coach, stadium, parking and public transport.
- Olympiacos.org - the current calendar, player list, coach, preseason matches and European results.
- Sports Mole - current form, projected line-ups, goalscorers and information on player availability before the first match.
- StadiumDB - opening year, renovation, address and basic information about Goffertstadion.
- Visit Nijmegen and Into Nijmegen - transport connections, the city's location and context for visitors.