As the Champions League knockout playoff round of 16 second leg unfolds at BayArena on 2026-02-24, Bayer Leverkusen hold a 2-0 aggregate lead over Olympiacos FC from the first leg. This tie represents a crucial opportunity for Leverkusen to advance, buoyed by their strong home European record, having won their last four home matches with clean sheets. Olympiacos face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit, having lost all previous ties where they trailed by two goals after the first leg.
Turning to recent form, Bayer Leverkusen have shown resilience despite a 1-0 loss to Union Berlin on 2026-02-21 in the Bundesliga. Prior to that, they secured a 2-0 victory over Olympiacos on 2026-02-18 and a dominant 4-0 win against St. Pauli on 2026-02-14. Their overall form across competitions is W W D W W L, indicating a generally positive run. Olympiacos, meanwhile, bounced back with a 2-0 win against Panetolikos on 2026-02-21 in the Greek Super League, following a 0-2 defeat to Leverkusen on 2026-02-18 and a 0-0 draw with Levadiakos on 2026-02-14. Their form stands at D W L D L W, showing inconsistency as they approach this match.
Key players and injuries could influence the outcome significantly. For Bayer Leverkusen, Patrik Schick stands out as a top performer, having scored a brace in the first leg. However, the team will be without Eliesse Ben Seghir due to an ankle injury, Nathan Tella with a foot injury, and Mark Flekken sidelined by a ligament/knee issue. Loïc Badé is doubtful with a hamstring problem, but Issa Traoré returns from suspension. On the Olympiacos side, Ayoub El Kaabi and Mehdi Taremi are players to watch in attack, though Konstantinos Angelakis is out until 2026-03-16 with a cruciate ligament tear, and Theofanis Bakoulas is unavailable until 2026-03-09 for the same reason. Panagiotis Retsos' availability is late due to a head injury.
Tactically, Bayer Leverkusen are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, potentially featuring Blaswich in goal and Schick up front, based on predictions. Olympiacos might opt for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 setup with Tzolakis in goal and El Kaabi leading the line. In head-to-head encounters, Leverkusen have the edge from their 2-0 win on 2026-02-18, though Olympiacos previously triumphed 2-0 on 2026-01-20 in the Champions League league phase. Overall, each team has two wins from their last four meetings, highlighting a competitive rivalry.
Looking ahead, Bayer Leverkusen are leaning towards progression given their aggregate lead and strong home form, but Olympiacos could mount a challenge if they capitalize on counter-attacks. The prediction favors a controlled performance from Leverkusen, likely resulting in a narrow victory that secures their place in the next round, though anything can happen in knockout football.
Recommended Bets
Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 1.60 — Based on their recent home wins and 2-0 aggregate lead.
Under 2.5 goals @ 1.80 — Recent matches for both teams have featured low-scoring affairs, including the first leg.
Patrik Schick to score anytime @ 2.50 — He netted a brace in the first leg, making him a key threat.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
