Olympiacos Stuns Bayer Leverkusen to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
Olympiacos delivered a dominant performance on Tuesday, defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home to keep their Champions League playoff aspirations firmly on track. The Greek giants’ clinical finishing at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus proved decisive as they moved to 22nd place ahead of their crucial final group-stage fixture.
Early Onslaught Sets the Tone
The hosts made an explosive start, with Costinha scoring in just 92 seconds—Olympiacos’ fastest Champions League goal ever recorded. The defender powered home a header from Rodinei’s corner, putting immediate pressure on Kasper Hjulmand’s Leverkusen side.
Mehdi Taremi doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time, securing the victory before the interval. The Iranian forward, who was a runner-up with Inter Milan last season, has now scored or assisted in each of his last three Champions League appearances.
Leverkusen Falls Short Despite Pressure
Bayer Leverkusen pressed hard throughout the second half, registering seven attempts on target compared to Olympiacos’ six overall shots. However, goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made several key saves to maintain the shutout. The German side, managed by Hjulmand following their 4-1 loss to Stuttgart in their previous fixture, remain at 19th place—one point ahead of their opponents.
Playoff Picture Heats Up
With one match remaining, Olympiacos now face Ajax in a crunch clash next week that could determine who advances to the knockout playoffs. Leverkusen, meanwhile, conclude their campaign against Villarreal as both teams fight for positioning in the expanded playoff format.
