Olympiacos vs Leverkusen Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, quotes

Olympiacos host Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg on 18 February.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know?

First-half goals from Costinha and Mehdi Taremi made the difference a month ago when José Luis Mendilibar's Olympiacos beat Leverkusen 2-0 in Piraeus on Matchday 7, but that was a relatively tame outcome given that the Werkself had lost 6-2 in 2002/03 in their only previous away encounter with Thrylos.

The Greek side last made it to the Champions League knockout phase in 2013/14, when they beat Man Utd 2-0 at home but missed out after a 3-0 loss in Manchester. Leverkusen have not won in four games in Greece (D1 L3) since a 4-1 Cup Winners' Cup success at Panathinaikos in 1993.

Possible line-ups

Olympiacos: Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Hezze, García; Rodinei, Chiquinho, Gelson Martins; Taremi

Leverkusen: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Lucas Vázquez, García, Fernández, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick

Form guide

Olympiacos

Form: DLWDWW (all competitions, most recent first)
Latest: Levadiakos 0-0 Olympiacos, 14/02, Greek Super League

Leverkusen

Form: WDWWWW
Latest: Leverkusen 4-0 St. Pauli, 14/02, German Bundesliga

Views from the camps

José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos coach: "We went match by match, hoping to make it to [the knockout phase]. In the end, we managed it and we continue. Now we have one more qualification to aim for. Reaching this point is already a big achievement."

Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen coach: "We had some great games [in the league phase]. We won at Benfica, won at Man City – two away games. Altogether, I think it’s OK. We are through to the [league phase play-offs]. That's the most important thing. Anything can happen in the knockout phase."

Reporter's view

Vassiliki Papantonopoulou, match reporter: It was only four weeks ago that Olympiacos beat Leverkusen 2-0 in the league phase, but it seems like an age has passed since then. Since that night in Piraeus, Leverkusen have been going from strength to strength: unbeaten and scoring frequently. By contrast, Olympiacos are going through a complicated spell, with just one victory in February. Will the return of Leverkusen bring them back to their best, or will the Werkself bring their sparkling form to Greece?