The UEFA Champions League 2025-26 knockout playoff 2nd leg showdown between Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos takes place tomorrow at the BayArena.
Having secured a 2-0 victory in the 1st leg thanks to Patrik Schick's brace, all eyes are on whether Leverkusen can clinch their Round of 16 spot at home, or if Olympiacos can pull off a miraculous comeback.
Notably, Olympiacos defeated Leverkusen 2-0 during the league phase this season, making this a decisive 2nd leg with the combined score standing at 2-2 across all meetings.
Match Overview
| Category | Details |
| Competition | UEFA Champions League 25/26 Knockout Playoff 2nd Leg |
| Date & Time | February 25, 2026 (Wed) 21:00 CET |
| Venue | BayArena (Leverkusen, Germany) |
| 1st Leg Result | Olympiacos 0-2 Leverkusen (Schick 60', 63') |
| Broadcast | SPOTV |
Team Form
Bayer Leverkusen
Under manager Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen sit 6th in the Bundesliga with a record of 12 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses in 22 matches.
Their recent form shows 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the last 5 games, maintaining a solid run.
However, their most recent Bundesliga match saw a 0-1 defeat to Union Berlin, showing a slight wobble in form.
That said, their confidence is sky-high in the Champions League following the 2-0 away victory in the 1st leg.
The 1st leg win was particularly significant as it marked the club's first-ever Champions League knockout round away victory.
| Date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
| 2.21 | Bundesliga | Union Berlin (A) | 0-1 L |
| 2.18 | UCL PO 1st Leg | Olympiacos (A) | 2-0 W |
| 2.14 | Bundesliga | St. Pauli (H) | 4-0 W |
| 2.7 | Bundesliga | Borussia M'gladbach (A) | 1-1 D |
| 2.3 | Bundesliga | St. Pauli (H) | 3-0 W |
Olympiacos
Under manager José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos sit 2nd in the Greek Super League with 46 points.
Their recent form of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in the last 5 games has been inconsistent.
While they bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Panetolikos in their most recent match, they have struggled in big games, including the Champions League 1st leg defeat and a loss to Panathinaikos.
However, they enjoyed a run of 3 consecutive Champions League wins this season, including a 2-1 away victory over Ajax, and have scored in 6 consecutive matches in European competition, showcasing notable attacking prowess on the continental stage.
| Date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
| 2.21 | Super League | Panetolikos (H) | 2-0 W |
| 2.18 | UCL PO 1st Leg | Leverkusen (H) | 0-2 L |
| 2.16 | Super League | Levadiakos (A) | D |
| 2.9 | Super League | Panathinaikos (H) | 0-1 L |
| 2.2 | Super League | AEK Athens (A) | 1-1 D |
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the third meeting between the two sides in this season's Champions League.
Interestingly, Olympiacos beat Leverkusen 2-0 at home during the league phase.
With goals from Costinha and Mehdi Taremi sealing a convincing victory, Olympiacos can draw on that experience to aim for a turnaround in this 2nd leg.
The overall head-to-head record stands perfectly balanced at 2 wins each across 4 meetings, with an attacking average of 3.5 goals per game between the two sides.
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
| 2026.02.18 | UCL PO 1st Leg | Olympiacos | 0-2 | Leverkusen |
| 2026.01.20 | UCL League Phase | Olympiacos | 2-0 | Leverkusen |
Playoff Aggregate: Leverkusen 2-0 Olympiacos (This is the score that determines Round of 16 qualification)
Predicted Lineups
Leverkusen are expected to be without Marc Flicken (knee), Loïc Badé (hamstring), Nathan Tella (foot), Eliesse Ben Seghir (ankle), and Malik Tillman (ankle) due to injuries.
Olympiacos will be missing Theofanis Vakoulas and Konstantinos Angelakis (both ACL injuries) for the long term.
| Leverkusen (3-4-2-1) | Position | Olympiacos (4-2-3-1) |
| Yannis Blaswich | GK | Konstantinos Tzolakis |
| Jarel Quansah | DF | Rodinei |
| Robert Andrich | DF | Panagiotis Retsos |
| Edmond Tapsoba | DF | Lorenzo Pirola |
| Lucas Vázquez | MF | Francisco Ortega |
| Exequiel Palacios | MF | Santiago Hezze |
| Aleix García | MF | Christos Mouzakitis |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | MF | Gelson Martins |
| Ibrahim Maza | FW | Mehdi Taremi |
| Ernest Poku | FW | Daniel Podence |
| Patrik Schick | FW | Ayoub El Kaabi |
Key Players
Patrik Schick (Leverkusen)
The hero of the 1st leg.
He netted twice in just 3 minutes, scoring in the 60th and 63rd minutes to hand Leverkusen a crucial away lead.
His first goal came from an Ernest Poku pass, beating his marker before calmly finishing into the bottom-left corner, while his second was a powerful header from Grimaldo's pinpoint corner kick delivery.
Standing at 192cm, his aerial threat combined with his experienced finishing ability make him the biggest headache for the Olympiacos defense in this 2nd leg as well.
Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos)
The spearhead leading the Olympiacos attack.
He plays the most pivotal role in Mendilibar's high-pressing system, recording the highest number of high press attempts in the Champions League this season.
He is not merely a pressing forward but also possesses clinical finishing ability, making his goals essential if Olympiacos are to mount a comeback.
The experience of beating Leverkusen during the league phase will also give him added confidence.
Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen)
Operating as Leverkusen's left wing-back, Grimaldo made his presence felt in the 1st leg by assisting Schick's second goal.
His precise crossing and set-piece delivery are key weapons in Leverkusen's attack.
With a wide range of movement in the 3-4-2-1 formation, he excels on both ends of the pitch, and he is expected to deliver dangerous runs and crosses against Olympiacos' right side in this 2nd leg.
Key Tactical Points
1. Whether Olympiacos Can Control the Early Tempo
Olympiacos rank first in the Champions League this season for high press attempts in the opposition half.
They execute over 120 high-intensity pressing actions per game, employing a strategy to cut off the opponent's build-up play at the source.
Needing to overturn a 2-goal deficit, they must press Leverkusen relentlessly from the opening whistle.
If they can grab a goal within the first 15 minutes, it could completely shift the dynamic of the match.
2. Leverkusen's Game Management
Leverkusen boast a ball-in-play ratio of 63.3%, among the highest in the Champions League this season.
This reflects their excellent ability to control the tempo through possession and neutralize the opponent's pressing.
Holding a 2-0 lead at home, rather than pushing forward aggressively, a strategy of stable game management to break Olympiacos' momentum would be effective.
However, they must be wary that being too defensive could leave them vulnerable, as they experienced against Union Berlin.
3. Set-Piece Battle
As Schick's second goal in the 1st leg came from a Grimaldo corner kick, Leverkusen pose a formidable threat from set pieces.
With tall, aerially dominant players such as Schick, Tapsoba, and Andrich, they can put significant pressure on the Olympiacos defense from corners and free kicks.
On the other hand, Olympiacos also have strong headers like Taremi, so the set-piece battle between both sides could prove to be the turning point of the match.
What to Watch
Leverkusen's Quest for the Champions League Round of 16
Historically, Leverkusen have a somewhat disappointing record in Champions League knockout rounds, winning just 2 out of 19 matches.
However, the 2-0 away victory in the 1st leg marked the club's first-ever knockout round away win, and all eyes are on whether they can ride this momentum to secure their place in the Round of 16.
With the team continuing to grow under Hjulmand's leadership, this match could be the moment Leverkusen write a new chapter in their European history.
Can Olympiacos Pull Off a Miracle Comeback?
For Olympiacos, achieving 4 consecutive European wins would be a first in the club's history.
The fact that they beat the same opponent 2-0 during the league phase is a hopeful sign.
With the pride of Greek football on the line, the European football world is watching closely to see if they can pull off an upset at the BayArena.
Mendilibar vs Hjulmand: A Tactical Showdown
The tactical battle between high-pressing maestro Mendilibar and Hjulmand, who favors stable build-up play, is another fascinating storyline.
How Leverkusen handle Olympiacos' intense pressing — or whether they get caught up in it — will ultimately determine the outcome of the match.
Match Prediction
With Leverkusen holding a 2-0 lead heading into this home leg, their chances of advancing to the Round of 16 are very high.
While Olympiacos' high press could unsettle the hosts early on, the burden of needing 3 or more goals will inevitably take a physical toll as the second half progresses.
Leverkusen are expected to control the tempo through their high ball-in-play ratio while capitalizing on counter-attacking opportunities.
However, given that Olympiacos have already beaten this team once during the league phase, Leverkusen must not let their guard down.
Predicted Score: Leverkusen 2-1 Olympiacos (Aggregate 4-1, Leverkusen advance to the Round of 16)