- NEC Nijmegen's last five matches are: 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats
- Olympiakos Piraeus FC's last five matches are: W1-D1-L3
- NEC Nijmegen's home form is superior to Olympiakos Piraeus FC's away form
Olympiakos’ defensive shape and game plan make them dangerous
This UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 clash is too close to call at this stage, but Olympiakos Piraeus FC's defensive shape and pragmatic game plan make them more likely to do the job in a close game on Tuesday.
The odds are in favour of the Greeks, who are 127/100 favourites against NEC's 47/20 and with the draw available at 9/4, but there is little to choose between the sides on paper.
José Luis Mendilibar has made Olympiakos Piraeus FC tough to beat since taking over on 11 February 2024, although they have struggled to finish off opponents.
Forward Jota Silva provides the team with some cutting edge, scoring 3 of their 5 goals in the past five games, but Olympiakos are essentially a compact team built for structure and to hit their opponents on the break.
NEC are high-pressers who play with freedom
That won't suit NEC, who have a high-tempo press and like to overload wide areas under Dick Schreuder, who has been in charge since 1 July 2025. Schreuder and his side do play with a lot of freedom in his preferred 3-4-2-1 system, which usually sees them push bodies forward in numbers.
They may not have enough sturdiness to beat Olympiakos in this tie, although they could well scrape a draw in the Netherlands.
NEC have been much better at home than away this season, with 3 wins and 3 losses from 6 in all competitions, scoring 2.50 goals per game on average and conceding 1.33.
Olympiakos have been blunt away from home, with 0 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats from 6, scoring 0.83 goals on average and letting in 2.00.
Olympiakos have some grit to keep things close
A 0-0 draw in the first leg has left the tie evenly poised going into Tuesday's second leg and the winner will be determined by who can manufacture the big moment.
Olympiakos arrive here on the back of consecutive defeats away to Royal Antwerp FC, 3-0, and AZ Alkmaar, 3-2, prior to the goalless draw with NEC in UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026.
They are not a bad team and have some real grit to them, as their overall record of 2 wins, 4 draws, and 4 defeats from 10 overall this season suggests. But they lack a killer instinct and it could take a goal or two for them to win this one.
Unders - 2.5 goals at 67/100 looks like a decent bet here given the cagey nature of the first-leg and Both Teams to Score - No at 17/20 also appeals in this low-margin contest.
Backing the away side, who are narrow favorites over the hosts in the match odds market, is our selection for the result.
