UEFA Champions League Round of 32
Olympiakos Piraeus 0 - 2 FT Bayer Leverkusen
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
13' A. El Kaabi
A. Garcia 42'
45' M. Taremi
HT
46' ↓ L. Pirola ↑G. Biancone
P. Schick (E. Poku) 60'
P. Schick (A. Grimaldo) 63'
64' ↓ D. Podence ↑Andre Luiz
64' ↓ M. Taremi ↑Chiquinho
↓ I. Maza ↑M. Tillman 64'
↓ E. Poku ↑M. Terrier 76'
↓ Lucas ↑Arthur 77'
82' ↓ S. Hezze ↑L. Scipioni
82' ↓ F. Ortega ↑B. Onyemaechi
↓ P. Schick ↑C. Kofane 86'
↓ A. Garcia ↑E. Fernandez 87'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Olympiakos Piraeus
Goalkeepers
Konstantinos Tzolakis 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Rodinei 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Panagiotis Retsos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lorenzo Pirola
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Francisco Ortega
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Midfielders
Christos Mouzakitis 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Santiago Hezze
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Gelson Martins 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Mehdi Taremi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Daniel Podence
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Forwards
Ayoub El Kaabi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Alexandros Paschalakis 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Nikolaos Botis
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Giulian Biancone
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Alexios Kalogeropoulos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bruno Onyemaechi
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Costinha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chiquinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diogo Nascimento
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lorenzo Scipioni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
André Luiz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Clayton
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bayer Leverkusen
Goalkeepers
Janis Blaswich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jarell Quansah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robert Andrich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edmond Tapsoba 
SHIELD
4
Blocks
4
Blocks
1
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Midfielders
Lucas Vázquez
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Exequiel Palacios 
MAGNET
104
Activity
104
Activity
93
Passes
11
Duels
Aleix García
MAGNET
92
Activity
92
Activity
87
Passes
5
Duels
Alejandro Grimaldo 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Forwards
Ibrahim Maza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Ernest Poku
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Patrik Schick 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
3
On Target
8
Rating
BENCH
Jonas Omlin
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Niklas Lomb
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Loïc Badé
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arthur
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tim Oermann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Axel Tape
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malik Tillman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezequiel Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonas Hofmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Montrell Culbreath
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Martin Terrier
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christian Kofane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
3
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/02/2026 | Olympiakos Piraeus | 0 - 2 | Bayer Leverkusen | UEFA Champions League | Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium |
| 20/01/2026 | Olympiakos Piraeus | 2 - 0 | Bayer Leverkusen | UEFA Champions League | Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium |
18/02/2026
20/01/2026
Olympiakos Piraeus Win
Bayer Leverkusen Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Schick’s Blitz Silences the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. A clinical second-half surge proved the difference as Leverkusen's efficiency trumped Olympiakos' early resistance in this high-stakes knockout clash.
The VAR Frustration
The Intensity was palpable at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium as Olympiakos Piraeus sought to leverage their home advantage. For the first 45 minutes, they largely succeeded in frustrating the visitors, creating a tactical gridlock. The home crowd erupted just before the interval when M. Taremi found the net, only for a VAR review to silence the stands due to an offside call. It was a crushing blow for the hosts, who had fought for every scrap of Balance in a half where clear-cut chances were at a premium. Konstantinos Tzolakis remained alert in the home goal, but the disallowed strike served as a warning that the margins in this competition are razor-thin.
The Three-Minute Storm
Everything changed on the hour mark as Bayer Leverkusen showcased why they are one of Europe's most feared units on the break. The deadlock was finally broken in the 60th minute when E. Poku delivered a precision ball for Patrik Schick to finish with trademark composure. Before the Piraeus faithful could even process the deficit, Schick struck again. Just three minutes later, A. Grimaldo turned provider, picking out the Czech forward for his second of the night. This rapid-fire brace completely altered the Upset potential, shifting the momentum entirely toward the German side and leaving the Greek champions shell-shocked.
Professional Game Management
With a two-goal cushion, Leverkusen controlled possession with 58% of the ball, effectively killing any hopes of a Greek comeback. Exequiel Palacios was instrumental in this phase, anchoring the midfield with an authoritative presence that disrupted any attempt at an Olympiakos rhythm. Despite firing 13 shots, the home side only managed a single effort on target, highlighting a lack of clinical edge when it mattered most. The Stakes of the knockout round dictated a professional finish, and Xabi Alonso’s men delivered exactly that. As the final whistle blew, the away fans celebrated a job well done, while Olympiakos was left to rue the fine margins that turned a competitive tie into a comfortable away victory.
Key Questions
Why was M. Taremi's goal disallowed?
The goal was ruled out in the 45th minute following a VAR review that identified an offside position during the buildup.
Who provided the assists for Patrik Schick's goals?
E. Poku assisted the first goal in the 60th minute, followed by A. Grimaldo assisting the second in the 63rd.
How dominant were Bayer Leverkusen in possession?
Leverkusen controlled possession with 58%, using their superior ball retention to see out the two-goal lead comfortably.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
The Gauntlet at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 58/100. A high-stakes collision where Olympiakos’s home intensity meets Leverkusen’s clinical away efficiency in a winner-takes-all scenario.
The Setup
As the UEFA Champions League transitions into the Round of 32 on February 18, 2026, the margin for error has vanished. Olympiakos Piraeus enters this tie after finishing the league phase in 24th, just clutching a playoff spot. Their Form rating of 5.2 reflects a period of inconsistency, yet the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium remains a daunting arena for visitors. Bayer Leverkusen, sitting 20th, arrive with a superior 50% away win rate, suggesting they are comfortable as the protagonists on foreign soil. With a Balance score of 10.0, the metrics suggest a dead heat between two sides desperate to prove they belong in the competition's elite bracket.
Key Battle
The outcome hinges on the duel between Gelson Martins and Alejandro Grimaldo. Martins has been the primary source of acceleration for the Greek champions, using his pace to stretch defensive blocks. He will face a stern test against Grimaldo, whose defensive positioning is as vital as his creative output from the left flank. If Martins can bypass the Spaniard's press, the hosts will find the cracks in Leverkusen's backline. Conversely, should Grimaldo neutralize the threat, the German side will likely dominate the transition game.
Our Prediction
Olympiakos will look to ignite the crowd early, forcing a frantic tempo that disrupts Leverkusen’s rhythm. While Konstantinos Tzolakis and Mark Flekken are both in elite shot-stopping form, the atmospheric pressure of the Karaiskakis usually tips the scales. Expect the Greeks to snatch a decisive goal late in the second half through a counter-attack, securing a 2-1 victory to take into the return leg.