<p>Olympiacos have won both meetings against Bayer Leverkusen this season, including a 2-0 demolition at Karaiskakis Stadium in January.</p> <p>Now the Greeks get another crack at the wounded Germans, who arrive in Piraeus with a lengthy injury list for this <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-uefa-champions-league">Champions League</a> playoff first leg. With the hostile Greek crowd behind them and recent history firmly in their favour, Jose Luis Mendilibar's men sense blood.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Competition:</strong> UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Play-off (First Leg)</li> <li><strong>Venue:</strong> Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece</li> <li><strong>Date: </strong>Wednesday, February 18, 2026</li> <li><strong>Start Time: </strong>7:00 AM AEDT (Thursday, February 19)</li> </ul> <h2>Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen Form and Head to Head</h2> <p>The head-to-head record between these sides makes grim reading for Leverkusen. Olympiacos have won two of their three Champions League meetings.</p> <p>More relevantly, the Greeks secured a 2-0 victory at this very ground during the league phase in January, extending their dominance over Kasper Hjulmand's outfit.</p> <p>Olympiacos enter in steady form, winning 2-1 at Ajax in their last Champions League outing before drawing 0-0 at Levadiakos domestically.</p> <p>Leverkusen bounced back from a 1-1 draw with Mönchengladbach by thumping St. Pauli 4-0 last weekend, though their injury list remains a major concern. Those interested in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/germany/german-bundesliga">Bundesliga betting</a> will have noted their inconsistent domestic form of late.</p> <h2>Leverkusen's Casualty List Hands Greeks the Edge</h2> <p>Bayer Leverkusen's treatment room resembles a field hospital heading into this tie. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken faces two months on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury, while Nathan Tella remains a long-term absentee with a foot problem. Edmond Tapsoba is ruled out with a muscle injury.</p> <p>Olympiacos have their own concerns, with Alexandros Paschalakis still nursing a calf injury. Lorenzo Pirola is a doubt with a muscle issue, while Theofanis Bakoulas definitely misses out. Konstantinos Tzolakis will start between the sticks.</p> <h2>Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen Betting Markets</h2> <p>The Greeks are receiving plenty of attention from punters after their dominant recent record against Leverkusen. For the latest Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen odds and markets, check out our dedicated odds page here at Sportsbet.</p> <p>The Both Teams to Score market looks appealing given both sides' attacking capabilities. Olympiacos have found the net in eight of their last ten matches, while Leverkusen rarely fail to score despite their injury woes.</p> <p>Costinha and Mehdi Taremi, who scored in the previous meeting, shape as the key men in the anytime goalscorer market.</p> <h2>Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction: Our Pick</h2> <p>Olympiacos look capable of securing another home victory against their German rivals, with goals at both ends adding to the entertainment.</p> <p>The Greeks have Leverkusen's number right now. Two wins from two meetings this season, including that 2-0 triumph on this ground, provides the perfect platform for another upset.</p> <p>Kasper Hjulmand's side are missing key players, including first-choice goalkeeper Flekken and defensive rock Tapsoba. The Karaiskakis atmosphere on European nights is worth a goal start alone, and Mendilibar's men have shown they know exactly how to hurt this Leverkusen side.</p> <p>That said, Leverkusen's attacking quality means a clean sheet looks unlikely. They've scored in seven consecutive away matches and possess the firepower to find a crucial away goal.</p> <p>Backing an Olympiacos win with Both Teams to Score covers both the home advantage and Leverkusen's inevitable threat going forward. If you're new to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer">soccer betting</a>, this market combines two outcomes into a single wager.</p> <p>The risk lies in Leverkusen raising their game for knockout football, but their defensive absences leave them vulnerable against a side that has already proven they can exploit those weaknesses.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-europa-league">Everything you need to know about betting on the Europa League</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/biggest-soccer-stadiums-world">The most incredible football stadiums you need to see</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/what-is-xg-soccer-explained">What xG actually tells us about a team's performance</a></li> </ul>