NEC Nijmegen vs Olympiakos Piraeus

NEC Nijmegen host Olympiakos Piraeus in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. This marks the first competitive meeting between the Dutch side and the Greek heavyweights, with a place in the play-off round at stake. Both teams enter the tie after mixed preseasons and significant squad upheaval.

Team News and Injury Latest

NEC manager Dick Schreuder is contending with a lengthy injury list. Vito van Crooij, Koki Ogawa, Perr Schuurs, Willum Thor Willumsson, Adam Tahaui and Yassin Moslih are all unavailable for the first leg. Ogawa’s absence is particularly notable after the Japanese forward contributed eight league goals last season. The veteran duo of Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen, who netted 21 top-flight goals between them, are included in the travelling party and will shoulder the attacking burden. In midfield, Kodai Sano and Darko Nejasmic are expected to anchor, tasked with disrupting Olympiacos’ creative channels.

For the hosts, José Luis Mendilibar must navigate several setbacks. Long-term absentee Yusuf Yazici (knee) remains out, while new goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has been ruled out as he continues to adjust after his arrival. Defensive midfielder Lorenzo Scipioni is a doubt after a shoulder issue, although he has returned to training. Should Scipioni be rested, Christos Mouzakitis and Dani Garcia are likely to start in central midfield. Chiquinho, a winger by trade, could be deployed in an unfamiliar number 10 role to support striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored 18 league goals last season and has already netted in preseason. Mehdi Taremi, who had 10 goals, offers firepower off the bench.

Form Guide

Olympiacos approach the qualifier on the back of a winless run in their final three friendlies. After beginning preseason with victories over Raków and Fortuna Sittard and a draw with Leuven, the Greek side lost to Ajax, Royal Antwerp and AZ Alkmaar without keeping a clean sheet. The defeat to AZ saw El Kaabi score, but Mendilibar’s backline has struggled for stability.

NEC’s preseason has been similarly erratic, featuring high-scoring encounters and defensive lapses. They conceded multiple goals in several warm-up matches, a vulnerability that a clinical Olympiacos attack will look to punish. Despite the absences, Dick Schreuder’s side carries momentum from a solid Eredivisie campaign that secured their European return.

Key Battle: Chiquinho’s Playmaking vs. NEC’s Midfield Shield

Mendilibar’s experiment with Chiquinho behind El Kaabi adds a layer of unpredictability. The Portuguese attacker has rarely started centrally under the Basque coach and will need to link quickly with forwards while evading the close attention of Sano and Nejasmic. NEC’s midfield pairing must close passing lanes and limit Olympiacos’ ball progression into the final third, especially the supply line to El Kaabi. Philippe Sandler’s distribution from deep could also be crucial in bypassing the Greek press, giving NEC an attacking outlet.

What’s at Stake

The winner over two legs advances to the play-off round, one step from the Champions League group stage. NEC Nijmegen will hope to take a positive result back to the Netherlands, while Olympiacos aim to capitalise on their European pedigree and avoid a repeat of their recent defensive slump. Expect a tactically cautious first leg where both managers weigh the risks of an away goal.