Bayer Leverkusen look to seal their passage to the Champions League round of 16 as they welcome Olympiacos to the BayArena for the return leg of their knockout playoff tie on Tuesday.
The hosts are firmly in control following last week’s 2–0 victory in Piraeus and are aiming to reach the last 16 in consecutive campaigns. Olympiacos, meanwhile, must overturn a two-goal deficit and also overcome history, having not reached this stage of the competition since 2013–14.
Our Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos prediction provides a clear outlook on the contest, alongside additional Champions League betting tips.
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Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos prediction: Hosts in the driving seat
Key stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have won their last four home matches, keeping clean sheets in all of them.
- No more than one team has scored in 10 of Olympiacos’ last 12 competitive games, including each of the last five.
- There have been fewer than 11 corners in six of Olympiacos’ last seven matches.
- Each of the last three of this fixture has ended in a 2-0 scoreline.
Correct score prediction: Leverkusen 2–0 Olympiacos
Given Olympiacos’ desperate situation in this tie, they are likely to take a more aggressive approach, which could leave space for Leverkusen to exploit on the counter. Die Werkself’s recent dominance at home provides added confidence heading into Tuesday’s clash.
The visitors have also struggled historically on German soil, losing nine of their last 11 such matches, and that record only heightens the difficulty of the task ahead.
Interestingly, Leverkusen’s two wins in this matchup have both ended 2–0, and another controlled victory could be on the cards given their current defensive solidity at the BayArena.
Pre-match odds and win probability: Hosts clear favourites
- HOME: 4/5 (1.80) – 55.6%
- DRAW: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
- AWAY: 3/1 (4.00) – 25.0%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers have installed Leverkusen as favourites, with a 55.6% implied probability of victory. Olympiacos are priced at 25.0%, while the draw stands at 26.3%.
Our hot tip — Leverkusen to score over 1.5 goals — offers value at 8/11 (1.73).
Most recent H2H: Leverkusen chasing back-to-back victories
Leverkusen and Olympiacos have now met four times, with last week’s win marking Die Werkself’s second victory (L2) in that sequence. Their only previous home meeting also ended in a win for the German side.
UEFA Champions League 18/02/26
Olympiacos
Bayer Leverkusen
UEFA Champions League 20/01/26
Olympiacos
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen preview: Fresh injury concern
Leverkusen head into this encounter following a 1–0 Bundesliga defeat at Union Berlin on Saturday, a match in which Loic Bade was forced off injured and is now a doubt for Tuesday.
If ruled out, he would join Eliesse Ben Seghir (ankle), Mark Flekken (knee) and Nathan Tella (foot) on the sidelines.
Predicted XI: Blaswich (GK), Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba, Vasquez, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo, Maza, Poku & Schick
Leverkusen’s last five results
- 21/02/26: Union Berlin 1–0 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 18/02/26: Olympiacos 0–2 Leverkusen (Champions League)
- 14/02/26: Leverkusen 4–0 St. Pauli (Bundesliga)
- 07/02/26: Borussia M’gladbach 1–1 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 03/02/26: Leverkusen 3–0 St. Pauli (DFB-Pokal)
Olympiacos preview: Key defender doubtful
Olympiacos bounced back from their European setback with a 2–0 league win over Panetolikos on Saturday and emerged from that fixture without fresh injury concerns.
However, defender Rodinei remains a doubt after missing the first leg, while midfielder Theofanis Bakoulas could again be sidelined due to a knee issue.
Predicted XI: Tzolakis (GK), Costinha, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega, Mouzakitis, Hezze, A. Luiz, Taremi, Martins & El Kaabi
Olympiacos’ last five results
- 21/02/26: Olympiacos 2–0 Panetolikos (Super League)
- 18/02/26: Olympiacos 0–2 Leverkusen (Champions League)
- 14/02/26: Levadiakos 0–0 Olympiacos (Super League)
- 08/02/26: Olympiacos 0–1 Panathinaikos (Super League)
- 04/02/26: Asteras Tripolis 0–3 Olympiacos (Super League)
Player to watch: Patrik Schick
Patrik Schick became the first Leverkusen player since Michael Ballack (vs. Liverpool in April 2002) to score a brace in a Champions League knockout match after his two goals in the first leg.
All eyes will be on the Czech striker to see if he can once again prove decisive as the Germans aim to finish the job at home.