Bayer Leverkusen enter the Olympiacos tie under pressure, with Kasper Hjulmand calling for a clear reaction after two Bundesliga defeats. A win in Piraeus would move Leverkusen to the brink of the Champions League knockout play-offs, in a league phase where every point is shaping qualification chances.
Leverkusen currently stand 20th in the 36-team Champions League league phase, with two fixtures left to play. Hjulmand’s side hold a three-point cushion over Benfica, who sit just below the cut-off line for the play-offs. Olympiacos are 29th on five points and still have a mathematical chance to progress.
Domestic form has dipped since the Bundesliga resumed from its winter break, increasing scrutiny on this European trip. Leverkusen lost 4-1 against
Stuttgart, then suffered a 1-0 defeat to Hoffenheim. Those results dropped the team to sixth place in the Bundesliga table, adding competitive and psychological weight to the Olympiacos assignment.
Hjulmand has underlined the need for Leverkusen to rediscover their identity at Karaiskakis Stadium, where the atmosphere is usually intense. "It's an emotional stadium, there's going to be a great atmosphere. We need a better performance than last time, to be honest," Hjulmand said. "We need structure again. Our philosophy is our weapon and our way of playing football. "
The fixture also revives a Champions League pairing first seen in the 2002-03 season’s initial group stage. Olympiacos won 6-2 in Piraeus in that campaign, before Leverkusen responded with a 2-0 victory at the BayArena. Those earlier meetings highlight the difficulty visiting teams often face in Greece under European floodlights.
Recent European history offers contrasting storylines for the two clubs ahead of this clash. Leverkusen are unbeaten in 19 major European matches against opponents from outside Europe’s top five leagues, with 14 wins and five draws, since a 3-0 loss to Porto in October 2022. That sequence underlines their consistency against similar-level opposition.
Olympiacos carry renewed belief after ending a long winless Champions League sequence. Following 10 matches without a victory in the competition, with two draws and eight defeats, Olympiacos beat Kairat Almaty 1-0 on matchday six. The previous time Olympiacos snapped a run of at least 13 winless games, between 2015 and 2019, they then defeated Red Star Belgrade and Marseille in successive fixtures.
Hjulmand expects Olympiacos to be well organised and dangerous under Jose Luis Mendilibar. "They play good football and have a good coach [Jose Luis Mendilibar] with a lot of experience. They are compact and, at the same time, have individual quality. We know what kind of opponent we are up against. We are ready, and our goal is to reach the next round of this competition. We have the opportunity to do that with a win. We're here to do that and are therefore looking forward to it. "
The broader league-phase picture adds another layer of importance for Leverkusen. Progress this season would come through the play-offs if they hold position, unlike 2024-25, when finishing sixth secured direct passage to the round of 16. That contrast sharpens the value of three points in Piraeus for both status and seeding.
Leverkusen’s and Olympiacos’ positions and recent European runs can be outlined as follows:
| Team | Champions League league-phase position | Points | Key recent European statistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayer Leverkusen | 20th of 36 | Not specified | Unbeaten in 19 games vs clubs outside top five leagues (W14 D5) |
| Olympiacos | 29th of 36 | 5 | Ended 10-game winless Champions League run by beating Kairat Almaty 1-0 |
Back on the big stage tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/AJpWwbQKI5Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 19, 2026
With qualification stakes clear, Leverkusen travel to Greece needing both control and conviction. Hjulmand’s emphasis on structure and philosophy reflects a desire to stabilise after domestic setbacks, while Olympiacos aim to build on renewed Champions League momentum, leaving a high-pressure contest with tangible rewards for whichever side manages the occasion best.
