NEC v Olympiacos Champions League Prediction

Following their impressive 0-0 draw in Greece, NEC still have a clear path to the play-offs for a place in the Champions League. And that’s quite an achievement, given that Olympiacos are a highly respected opponent who, as recently as last year, managed to take points off both PSV and Ajax. Can NEC Nijmegen bounce back from their disappointing 1-2 defeat against SC Telstar and knock the Greeks out at the Miljardenbal? Here is our NEC v Olympiakos prediction.

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NEC v Olympiacos preview

A side that has never played in the Champions League takes on a team that almost always features in the world’s biggest club competition. Can NEC spring a surprise? Here’s a brief look at both teams.

Current Form & Team News

NEC

You’d think that a 0–0 draw against a team like Olympiacos would give the team a much-needed confidence boost. Yet that confidence was nowhere to be seen in the first league match of the year. The Gelderland side fell behind to SC Telstar within the first minute and went on to suffer a 1–2 defeat. A very poor start for last year’s third-placed side. The question is therefore whether Dick Schreuder will shake things up. Especially as not every player is yet at the desired level of fitness.

Olympiacos

There is actually very little to say about Olympiacos at this stage. Nevertheless, there is one striking aspect to the Southern Europeans’ pre-season preparations. The team, managed by Spanish coach Mendilibar, travelled to the Netherlands this summer to hold their pre-season training camp. They played against Fortuna Sittard, Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, after which they were drawn against NEC in the Champions League. So far, they have managed to win just once in these Dutch-Greek encounters. Still, we all know that Thrylos’s European experience could well prove decisive at the Goffert.

Head-to-Head

NEC and Olympiakos played their first official match against each other last week. As we know, we’re still waiting for the first goal. What is clear, however, is that there will definitely be a winner after this clash.

Predicted line-ups

NEC (3-1-4-2):

Crettaz, Fonville, Sandler, Storm, Nejasmic, Bischoff, Lebreton, Monteiro, Ouaissa, Tadic, Chery

Olympiakos (4-2-3-1):

Popovic, Onyemaechi, Carmo, Retsos, Saliakis, Mouzakitis, Garcia, Roca, Chiquinho, Rodinei, El Kaabi

NEC v Olympiacos betting tips

Betting tip 1: Olympiacos will progress to the next round

It is a fact that Olympiacos has more international pedigree than NEC Nijmegen. Despite the fact that NEC certainly held their own against the Greeks last week, we still regard Olympiacos as the clear favourites. Especially when you consider how easily SC Telstar managed to score against the Nijmegen side. We hope not, but we still think Olympiacos will progress to the next round. This gives you odds of 1.83.

Betting tip 2: Ayoub El Kaabi to score a goal

As mentioned, we feel that Olympiacos’s experience will ultimately prove decisive. They are certainly lacking in European experience, particularly in defence and midfield. One player who is always capable of popping up out of nowhere to score a goal is Ayoub El Kaabi. We expect plenty of chances for both teams once again, with the Moroccan striker finding the net at least once. This will earn you odds of 2.60.

Prediction: NEC v Olympiacos

Final score: NEC 1–2 Olympiacos
We’re predicting a narrow victory for Olympiacos, with the Greeks showing a bit more precision in front of goal this time round. This will result in a narrow 2–1 win for Olympiacos. At least, that’s how we feel!