- Olympiakos are 1.6 favorites to win this UEFA Champions League third-qualifying-round tie against 6.4 outsiders NEC Nijmegen.
- The draw is priced at 3.7 with the Greeks unbeaten at home across all competitions in 3 matches, winning 2 and drawing 1.
- Olympiakos have won only 1 of their last 5 matches, drawing 1 and losing 3, against Royal Antwerp and AZ Alkmaar.
Olympiakos have the home edge, but NEC can hold firm
Olympiakos Piraeus FC vs NEC Nijmegen preview suggests Olympiakos Piraeus FC are 1.6 favorites to defeat NEC Nijmegen in the third qualifying-round for a spot in the UEFA Champions League in 2026, but there is a little more to this game than the prices suggest.
Both sides are on similar form with 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats in their last 10 games across all competitions, but Olympiakos have the advantage of having home-field advantage.
Jota Silva is the danger man for Olympiakos with 3 goals in 5 games as the attacker has carried the load for his team while they have gone through a rough patch of 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats in their last 5. José Luis Mendilibar took over the Greek club in February 2024 and has continued to implement his style of direct, high-tempo 4-2-3-1 football with a high press, wing overloads and counter-attacking structure.
Dick Schreuder took over NEC on 1 July 2025 and has installed a more structured, counter-pressing system that allows his team to create half-space overloads and play in numbers when on the ball. This should lead to a battle for second balls and half-space dominance at Karaiskakis Stadium on Tuesday with Olympiakos hoping to blow the press and NEC looking to stay compact and spring forward on the counter.
Odds look too tight for goals
We're not sure the bookmakers have got this one quite right as Olympiakos look the more likely winners on home turf, but their current form doesn't justify the 1.6 tag as they have lost their two most recent fixtures.
Our Olympiakos Piraeus FC vs NEC Nijmegen prediction is that NEC are still seeking their first away win across all competitions, drawing 2 and losing 2 of their 4 road games to date.
They have conceded seven goals in those four road matches and this game could be a tough one with Olympiakos conceding just twice in their most recent three home games.
Olympiakos Piraeus FC vs NEC Nijmegen betting tips point to Under 2.5 goals, which is listed at 1.95 and seems tight given Olympiakos have only won one of their last five.
Over 2.5 is available at 1.82 while Both Teams to Score is a shade under even money with No at 1.93 and Yes at 1.78.
