Champions League
2026-08-11 - NEC Nijmegen vs Olympiacos
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Tuesday 11th August 2026 - Kick Off 6:30pm
NEC Nijmegen
When you think of Dutch Football, the first three clubs that will spring to mind has to be the three former European Champions playing in the country. A club like NEC Nijmegen feel like something of an upstart having not only earned a European place for the first time in seventeen years, but doing so by finishing 3rd in the Eredivisie and earning a Champions League Qualifying spot.
The top three finish really did come out of left field and NEC Nijmegen are hoping to write more new history by progressing into the Group Stage of the Champions League. This is the first time they have competed in the top UEFA competition and NEC Nijmegen returned from Greece with a very credible goalless draw from the First Leg last week.
NEC Nijmegen began the domestic campaign with a disappointing 1-2 home defeat to Telstar this past weekend and that result does mean they have won 1 of the last 8 games in all competitions going back to the conclusion of last season. The loss also means NEC Nijmegen saw the 6 game unbeaten run at home snapped ahead of this very important Second Leg.
Unsurprisingly a couple of changes were made for the League game this past weekend with this fixture in mind, but the home team are still missing some depth with injuries littered throughout the squad.
Olympiacos
When the Greek top flight was split into the Championship Play Off section, Olympiacos would have felt very confident about their position as the defending Champions. The reality turned out very different with Olympiacos struggling for wins to overtake AEK Athens and that has meant the Champions League run has begun a Round earlier than their rivals, as well as in the League Path rather than the Champions Path.
The goalless draw at home in the First Leg of this tie does leave Olympiacos with work to do, but this is an experienced European club. In 2024 they won the Conference League, unexpectedly, while Olympiacos have reached the Knock Out Rounds of the Europa League (2025) and Champions League (2026) since winning their first UEFA silverware. Last season, Olympiacos drew at home with PSV Eindhoven and won 1-2 at Ajax in Amsterdam in the Champions League Group.
Olympiacos have won 2 of the last 8 games played in all competitions, but they have also suffered just a couple of defeats in that time. The side have been taking in friendly games against Dutch and Belgian opposition without much success, but Olympiacos have been beaten in just 1 of the last 18 away games in all competitions.
Panagiotis Retsos is a doubt for this Second Leg.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive fixture hosted by NEC Nijmegen between these clubs.
Prediction
You have to believe that getting a first competitive fixture of the 2026/27 season under their belt can only be a positive for Olympiacos as they look to progress in the Champions League.
They were second best in the goalless draw played in Greece last week, but Olympiacos are a very experienced team.
That experience includes playing PSV Eindhoven and Ajax last season, while also taking in friendly games against teams from the Netherlands and Belgium, and Olympiacos will still be pretty confident.
The same can be said for NEC Nijmegen, although the home loss in the opening League fixture of the season this past weekend is a blow.
Adding to that is the fact the defeat came at home, while NEC Nijmegen are still looking to display a bit more composure in the final third. It may have made all the difference in the First Leg and the Dutch club may be able to force something through when playing in front of the home fans.
Nothing will come easily for either team and the first goal feels massively important.
However, being able to host this Second Leg may just give NEC Nijmegen a slight edge and they should be further along in their bid to reach full match fitness.
Olympiacos have been a very solid European team in the last couple of years and that deserves respect, but NEC Nijmegen may do what it takes to edge through this Second Leg.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
NEC Nijmegen 2-1 Olympiacos
