The first leg of this UEFA Champions League knockout playoff began in a cauldron of noise at the Karaiskakis Stadium, where José Luis Mendilibar’s Olympiacos attempted to replicate their January victory over the German giants. Deploying an aggressive 4-2-3-1, the Greek champions focused on a high-intensity man-oriented press designed to disrupt Leverkusen’s structured build-up. The tactical 'how' of the first half was defined by Olympiacos forcing Bayer Leverkusen into hurried clearances, limiting the influence of Aleix García in the middle third. Despite the hosts’ territorial dominance, the deadlock remained unbroken due to a controversial VAR intervention. In the 41st minute, Mehdi Taremi appeared to have poked home a loose ball from a set-piece, but a prolonged review for offside eventually ruled the goal out. The first half ended with Olympiacos holding 58% of the ball and an xG of 0.84, while the visitors struggled to register a single shot on target.
Schick’s Clinical Pivot and Structural Collapse
The second half saw a dramatic shift in tactical execution as Erik ten Hag’s Leverkusen side adjusted their spacing to bypass the Greek midfield block. By dropping Patrik Schick deeper into the '10' pocket, Leverkusen drew Olympiacos’ center-backs, Lorenzo Pirola and Panagiotis Retsos, out of position. This spatial manipulation bore fruit in the 60th minute. A rapid vertical transition started by Ernest Poku sliced through the heart of the Olympiacos midfield, allowing Schick to receive the ball on the turn and fire a low drive past Konstantinos Tzolakis to make it 0-1. The tactical blow was immediate; Olympiacos, forced to chase the game, abandoned their compact structure, which played directly into the hands of Leverkusen’s counter-attacking blueprint. Just three minutes later, in the 63rd minute, Alejandro Grimaldo surged down the left flank and delivered a trademark low cross that Schick converted with a clinical first-time finish to double the lead.
Midfield Attrition and Game Management
Following the double-salvo from Schick, the match shifted into a phase of attrition. Leverkusen’s midfield trio of Aleix García and Exequiel Palacios exerted metronomic control, recording a combined 91% passing accuracy in the final thirty minutes to sap the energy out of the home crowd. Olympiacos attempted to inject life into their attack through the substitutions of Roman Yaremchuk and Gelson Martins, but they were met by a disciplined Leverkusen low block that prioritized central compactness. The German side’s defensive efficiency was highlighted by their 18 clearances and the composure of Janis Blaswich, who replaced the injured Mark Flekken and maintained a clean sheet under immense pressure from late set-pieces. The tactical maturity of the visitors was evident as they successfully slowed the tempo, reducing the game to a series of low-risk lateral passes that effectively neutralized the threat of another Olympiacos comeback.
Statistical Dominance and Second-Leg Outlook
The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for Bayer Leverkusen, a result that masks a highly physical and tightly contested encounter. While Olympiacos finished with more total shots (13 to 9), Leverkusen’s conversion of two big chances proved the difference between the two sides. The xG (Expected Goals) battle ended 1.15 to 1.54 in favor of the visitors, reflecting their superior quality in the final third during the second half. Defensively, Leverkusen’s 4-2-3-1 hybrid structure proved resilient, especially after the introduction of Enzo Fernández to provide late-game stability. For Mendilibar’s side, the failure to capitalize on their first-half dominance leaves them with a mountain to climb in Germany. Leverkusen will head into the second leg with a commanding two-goal cushion and the psychological edge of having silenced one of Europe's most intimidating venues. For Olympiacos to progress, they must find a way to maintain their 7.2 pressures per minute for the full duration of the return leg without sacrificing the structural integrity that Schick so ruthlessly exploited tonight.