Is Werkself still aiming for the top 8?
The Werkself has already suffered two massive setbacks this calendar year. They have lost two games against direct competitors for Champions League places (1-4 vs. VfB Stuttgart, 0-1 vs. Hoffenheim). In the sports betting comparison for the Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen tip, it will be close again.
Kasper Hjulmand and his team are currently in 20th place. That would be enough to qualify for the playoffs. Ahead of the Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen prediction, the gap to the top eight is just as wide as the gap to 25th place – three points in each case.
The hosts are among those candidates who still have hopes of making it into the Champions League playoffs. So far, the Thrylos have only won one game in the league phase, but that was on the last matchday in an away game against Kairat Almaty (1-0).
The hosts themselves suffered a setback last weekend, losing their Greek Cup quarterfinal against PAOK Saloniki (0-2). Among others, the team was missing top striker Ayoub El Kaabi (12 goals in the Greek league this season), who was playing in the Africa Cup of Nations final with Morocco.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen AI prediction
According to the Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen AI prediction, there is a small value to be had if you bet on one of the two clubs failing to score. This has been the case in two of the Werkself’s last three Champions League games.
Olympiacos Piraeus – Statistics & current form
Panagiotis Retsos already played for Olympiacos Piraeus in his youth. In the 2015 season, the 1.86 m tall center back moved up to the first team, recommended himself for bigger tasks and transferred to his upcoming opponent, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in 2017. In the following years, there were several loans before the 27-year-old returned to his home club in 2023.
Retsos is now captain of the Red and Whites and a key pillar of the defense. For him, the Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen matchup is therefore a special duel. Especially after he had to watch from the sidelines due to injury during the only Champions League win of the season.
His athleticism is extremely important for Jose Luis Mendilibar’s match plans. Retsos and his teammates defend a lot of space behind them. Olympiacos plays with a high back line (45.9 m at the start of pressing). The result: only four teams won the ball more often in the attacking third than the Thrylos (59).
A decisive game
The hosts will also have to do without Ayoub El Kaabi on the seventh matchday of the Champions League. Mehdi Taremi is expected to lead the line instead. The 33-year-old has only scored once in the current league phase (he scored in the 3-4 defeat to Real Madrid).
On the last matchday, Taremi at least set up the golden goal for the 1-0 win against Kairat Almaty. If the adventure in the Champions League is to continue after the league phase, a home win against Werkself is a must. The hosts are currently two points behind 24th place.
There are prospects of success on the final matchday against Ajax Amsterdam (the weakest defense in the current Champions League season). The basis for this is the defensive play. In the Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Leverkusen tip, we are talking about the hosts having the better expected defense (8.0 xGA).
Leverkusen – Statistics & current form
B04 was unable to carry the positive end to last year into the new calendar year. 2025 ended for B04 with consecutive victories against Cologne (2-0) and RB Leipzig (3-1). Defeats at the start of the year against Stuttgart (1-4) and Hoffenheim (0-1) meant that the Champions League places in the Bundesliga slipped through their fingers again.
Leverkusen has scored only one goal so far this calendar year. The Bundesliga club’s offensive play has also rarely been convincing in the league’s top flight so far this season. Ten goals scored looks much better than the 7.90 expected goals after six games.
By comparison, Olympiacos Piraeus has scored only six goals.
However, if we compare the expected goals of the Greek representative with those of the Werkself, we see two offensive lines at a similar level (7.91 xG). An extremely exciting match could await Hjulmand’s team.
How will Bayer compensate for the absences?
The workload at the start of the year is high, and Leverkusen is traveling to Greece with some baggage. Many players are struggling with muscle injuries, and some have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations carrying knocks. At least three experienced professionals are available for central defense. Hjulmand is expected to set up a back three, with Robert Andrich still suspended.
The club reported another setback following the 0-1 defeat to Hoffenheim. Regular goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who was substituted, will be out for an extended period, as will Nathan Tella. We expect Janis Blaswich, who came on as a substitute against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, to start between the posts.
Defending set pieces has been fairly easy for the visitors in the Champions League so far. Leverkusen have conceded only one goal from a set piece in six CL games and have allowed only 17 shots from set pieces in total.
Olympiakos Piraeus – Leverkusen Head-to-head record
There have not been many direct duels between the two clubs prior to our Olympiakos Piraeus – Leverkusen prediction. The last matchup took place in the Champions League in 2002. At that time, Olympiacos won both matches (6-2, 2-0) and confidently advanced to the next round of the knockout phase.
Olympiacos Piraeus – Leverkusen Tip
Both teams botched their dress rehearsal and suffered shutout defeats last weekend. The hosts lost in the cup quarterfinals, while B04 lost another direct duel against a contender for the Champions League spots in the Bundesliga.
There shouldn’t be much goal threat from set pieces in this match. Olympiacos has one of the best expected defenses against set pieces (0.91 set-piece xGA) and, like B04, has conceded only one goal from a set piece.
On the other hand, the Greek representative has not yet scored a CL goal from a set piece this season – Leverkusen, despite being experts in this area, has also only scored one goal from a set piece. We expect an intense match that will likely be decided by a single goal.
