In another high-profile fixture Wednesday evening, Olympiacos host Real Madrid at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. It’s a visit of high stakes and historical undertones as the Spanish giants arrive looking to reassert their authority in Europe.
Background & Motivation
Real Madrid, under the guidance of their coach, are eager to bounce back after a recent run of inconsistent results — both domestically and in Europe. Their last result in the Champions League saw them drop points, and they now need to stabilize to keep their ambitions alive.
Olympiacos, by contrast, enter the game under pressure. The Greek side remain winless this season in the league phase — with draws and losses in their four previous fixtures. A win at home could revive their hopes of making it to the knockout rounds.
Historically, Real Madrid have dominated the head-to-head record — but rarely on Greek soil. In fact, none of Real’s previous victories over Olympiacos came away from home. That adds an element of unpredictability and motivation for the hosts.
Team News & Tactical Considerations
Real Madrid face a defensive crisis: several key defenders are unavailable, including first-choice centre-backs, forcing coach to reshuffle. The likely lineup will see goalkeeper Andriy Lunin start (due to the unavailability of the number-one), while midfielders and attackers must shoulder more creative and defensive responsibility.
Real will likely try to dominate possession, press high, and exploit transitions through their wide players and forwards — especially banking on the speed and finishing of forward Kylian Mbappé, whose explosive pace and attacking instinct make him a constant threat.
Olympiacos, aware of their limitations, will likely adopt a compact defensive shape and try to hit Madrid on transitions or set-pieces. Their key danger man will be Daniel Podence — a creative and sharp attacker capable of breaking lines and exploiting space behind Madrid’s potentially fragile back line.
The atmosphere in the Karaiskakis Stadium is expected to be intense; Olympiacos and their fans know that a positive result would dramatically boost their qualification chances.
Prediction & What to Expect
Most analysts consider Real Madrid the favourites but note that the match could be tighter than usual. Given Madrid’s defensive issues, the betting market leans toward Real Madrid to win, but likely with an incomplete clean sheet — meaning a 2–0 or 2–1 outcome.
If Real Madrid manage to impose their quality early on, control the midfield, and channel play through Mbappé and creative midfield support, they should emerge victorious. However, if Olympiacos remain compact and strike on the break — especially via Podence — they could at least salvage a draw or make things difficult in front of a hostile crowd.
For Madrid, victory stabilizes their campaign and reinforces their credentials; for Olympiacos, even a draw would be morale-boosting, but a win could reignite hopes of progressing out of the league phase.