Olympiacos Piraeus and NEC Nijmegen open their tie in Piraeus
Olympiacos Piraeus host NEC Nijmegen in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, with kick-off at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium scheduled for 21:00 local time. The return leg will be played in Nijmegen on 11 August, so the result in Piraeus will not immediately decide which team advances, but it will strongly determine the approach to the second match.
The hosts enter the contest with the experience of regular European appearances and the objective of building an advantage in front of their supporters. NEC arrive after an exceptionally successful domestic season in which they finished third. For the Dutch team, this is not an excursion, but a reward for a season marked by attacking football and 77 league goals.
Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters, particularly because it is Olympiacos' first competitive match of the season and one of the biggest European nights in NEC's recent history.
What is at stake for both teams
Olympiacos finished the previous season in second place in the Greek championship. They collected 66 points from 32 matches, scoring 51 goals and conceding 17. José Luis Mendilibar's team built most of its season on a solid defence, control of space and the ability to decide matches without allowing a large number of chances.
NEC finished third in the Dutch championship with 59 points. They recorded 16 wins, 11 draws and seven defeats, with a goal difference of 77:53. The number of goals scored was one of the main reasons for their European qualification, but the 53 goals conceded show why defensive organisation in Piraeus will be crucial.
- Olympiacos: second place in Greece, 66 points and a goal difference of 51:17.
- NEC Nijmegen: third place in the Netherlands, 59 points and a goal difference of 77:53.
- The first match will be played in Piraeus, with the return leg at the Goffertstadion on 11 August.
- The winner will advance towards the final qualifying step before the league phase.
Olympiacos must make use of home advantage without unnecessarily opening space for counter-attacks. NEC's objective is to remain within reach before the return leg, but their natural style is not passive. If they retreat completely, the visitors could lose what makes them dangerous - technical quality between the lines, rapid positional exchanges and a large number of players capable of finishing attacks.
Olympiacos' pre-season form
Olympiacos played six pre-season matches in the Netherlands during July. They defeated Raków and Fortuna Sittard, drew with OH Leuven and lost to Ajax, Royal Antwerp and AZ Alkmaar. The preparations were used for rotations and testing new players, but the final three matches highlighted problems when opponents increased the tempo late in the game.
Against AZ Alkmaar, Olympiacos led 2:0 through goals from Ayoub El Kaabi and David Carmo, but conceded three times in the second half and lost 3:2. Against Royal Antwerp, all three goals were conceded after the break, while Ajax won with a goal in the 81st minute. The common problem was a loss of control following substitutions and the defence of space when matches became stretched.
One positive development was Jota Silva, who scored all three goals in the 3:1 victory over Fortuna Sittard. El Kaabi remains the primary reference point in the penalty area, while Kostas Fortounis, Gelson Martins, Chiquinho, Rodinei and Christos Mouzakitis offer different ways of creating numerical advantages.
- Raków - Olympiacos victory 2:1.
- OH Leuven - 1:1 draw.
- Fortuna Sittard - 3:1 victory with a Jota Silva hat-trick.
- Ajax - Olympiacos defeat 1:0.
- Royal Antwerp - Olympiacos defeat 3:0.
- AZ Alkmaar - Olympiacos defeat 3:2 after leading 2:0.
Mendilibar has a wide range of attacking options. Alongside El Kaabi, the squad includes Mehdi Taremi, Roman Yaremchuk, Clayton and Giorgos Masouras. Santiago Hezze, Dani García, Mouzakitis and Chiquinho are important in midfield, while the defence can be built around Panagiotis Retsos, David Carmo and Lorenzo Pirola. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and midfielder Gustavo Sá expanded the squad at the end of July, but they had little time to settle in.
NEC arrive with new names and their familiar attacking identity
NEC retained the core of the team, but made several important changes. Dirk Proper left the club after 185 appearances and moved to sc Heerenveen, which represents a loss in midfield. Coach Dick Schreuder gained additional experience with the arrivals of Dusan Tadić, Jamiro Monteiro and Emre Mor, while Clement Bischoff joined on loan as an option for the left side of the attack.
Tadić signed a few days before the journey to Piraeus, but already received minutes against Sevilla. He can receive the ball between the lines, retain possession under pressure and calm the tempo. Tjaronn Chery remains one of the most important players and the captain, threatening with his shooting, final passes and set pieces.
Kodai Sano provides mobility in midfield, Koki Ogawa offers depth and finishing, while Sami Ouaissa enters the match after scoring against Sevilla. NEC took the lead in the 28th minute of that final test, but lost 2:1. Schreuder changed the entire line-up after an hour, so the result must be viewed in the context of pre-season, although the match demonstrated how dangerous NEC can be when they quickly combine several passes on the edge of the penalty area.
The pre-season results were inconsistent. NEC defeated Al-Fayha 7:0 and V-Varen Nagasaki 3:1, but lost to MSV Duisburg, Anderlecht, SV Elversberg and Sevilla. The team has enough attacking talent to create chances, but its high defensive line leaves space behind the last line.
Tactical duel: home pressure against the visitors' passing build-up
Olympiacos will attempt to raise the intensity immediately. Mendilibar's team seek to win the ball high up the pitch, attack quickly after an opponent's mistake and use crosses towards a powerful striker. El Kaabi is particularly dangerous when moving between the centre-backs, while Rodinei can create an overload as a full-back who advances very high.
For NEC, the first task will be to escape the initial pressure. Gonzalo Crettaz, Philippe Sandler, Perr Schuurs and the other defenders will have to make quick decisions. Short passing can open space behind the hosts' first line, but a mistake in their own third could immediately turn possession into a chance for El Kaabi or Jota Silva.
Schreuder can combine Darko Nejašmić, Kodai Sano and Monteiro in midfield, while Chery and Tadić can interchange positions behind the striker. NEC do not need to have more possession to be dangerous, but after winning the ball they must not waste the attack with the first inaccurate pass.
Set pieces could also be important. Olympiacos have height and powerful players in the penalty area, while NEC possess takers capable of delivering the ball into a dangerous area from a free kick or corner. In a two-legged tie, one set-piece goal can change the entire plan for the return leg.
Limited history of head-to-head meetings
Olympiacos and NEC do not have an established competitive rivalry. Their only recent meeting was played during pre-season on 27 July 2024, when Olympiacos won 2:0. The result provides only limited context because it was a friendly match and the squads have changed considerably in the meantime.
Nevertheless, that meeting reminds NEC that Olympiacos can control a match without creating a large number of chances. The visitors must avoid falling behind early, because the hosts could then choose their moments to press and wait for space to appear when the Dutch side push forward in search of an equaliser.
Georgios Karaiskakis and the conditions awaiting the visitors
The Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium is located in Piraeus, a major port city within the Athens urban area. The current stadium opened in 2004 and has 33,505 seats, 43 suites and specially arranged places for wheelchair users and their companions. Its capacity and compact stands allow the home supporters to increase the pressure on the visitors from the opening minutes.
A section with a capacity of 1,600 seats has been allocated to visiting supporters. Travellers from the Netherlands should follow the instructions for ticket collection, organised arrival and entry into the away section, because arrangements for European matches may differ from the usual access procedures.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly for this important qualifying match. It is advisable to plan an earlier arrival, particularly because of security checks and possible separate routes for home and visiting supporters.
How to reach the stadium
Public transport is the simplest option for most visitors. Faliro station on the green metro line is located next to the sports complex and connects the area with Piraeus, Monastiraki and Omonia. A tram also operates to the area around the stadium, towards the Stadium of Peace and Friendship stop.
- Address: Karaoli & Dimitriou 98, Piraeus.
- Metro: green line, exit at Faliro station.
- Tram: direction towards Stadium of Peace and Friendship.
- Bus routes providing access to the area include 040, 101, 130 and X95.
- Drivers should check parking arrangements and possible road closures around the stadium in advance.
The opening time of the entrances had not been consistently confirmed in the available information by 1 August. It is therefore not reasonable to plan arrival immediately before kick-off. Identity checks, ticket inspections and directions towards the appropriate section may take time, particularly in the visiting section of the stadium.
Piraeus is a separate urban centre and one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean. The stadium is located between Piraeus and the central districts of Athens, close to important transport hubs and the sports complex in Faliro. After the match, it is more practical to use the metro or pre-arranged transport than to search for a vehicle immediately next to the stadium.
Players who could decide the first match
Ayoub El Kaabi remains the hosts' most direct threat. His movement inside the penalty area forces the centre-backs to communicate constantly, and every delayed reaction to a cross or a loose ball can be punished. Jota Silva showed during pre-season that he can arrive from deeper positions, while Fortounis and Chiquinho can take responsibility for the final pass.
For NEC, the greatest concentration of creativity is found around Chery and Tadić. Chery was among the nominees for the best player of the previous Dutch league season, while his experience and shooting give the visitors a solution even when they do not create a clear chance. Tadić brings a different tempo, but is still adapting to his new team. Ogawa, Linssen, Ouaissa and Bischoff offer different profiles in the final third.
Defensively, much will depend on whether NEC can prevent their centre-backs from becoming isolated against El Kaabi. Olympiacos must ensure that both full-backs do not remain too high at the same time, because Chery, Tadić or Sano could open space for an away transition with a single pass.
What supporters can expect on the pitch
The opening phase could be the most intense period of the match. Olympiacos will attempt to use the home energy, while NEC will seek possession spells long enough to slow the tempo and force the home players to retreat. If the visitors withstand the initial pressure without conceding, the match could open up through increasingly ambitious advances by the Dutch team.
The hosts have a wider selection of strikers and more experience in this type of tie. NEC respond with creativity, a large number of potential goalscorers and a coach who does not easily abandon an attacking approach. The greatest risk for Olympiacos is a repeat of their second-half declines from the pre-season matches, while NEC's greatest risk is losing the ball during build-up under high pressure.
It is advisable to secure tickets in good time and check the latest instructions regarding entry, the visiting section and traffic around the stadium before departure. The match in Piraeus is only the first half of the tie, but play without the ball could be just as important as the number of chances created.
Sources:
- Olympiacos.org - pre-season match results, current squad, coach, stadium information and travel instructions.
- N.E.C. Nijmegen - dates of both matches, away-section capacity, current squad and summer transfers.
- Super League Greece - final standings and Olympiacos statistics for the 2025/2026 season.
- Eredivisie and N.E.C. Nijmegen - final standings, points and NEC's goal difference for the 2025/2026 season.
- AS - report, line-ups and goalscorers from the NEC Nijmegen - Sevilla pre-season match.
- Olympiacos.org - report on the 2:0 pre-season victory over NEC Nijmegen in July 2024.