Olympiakos vs Bayer 04 Predictions: Leverkusen can seize the lead

Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to extend a six-game unbeaten run when they head to Greece to face Olympiakos in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday. 

Read on for my Olmypiakos vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions with the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Olympiakos remain without midfielder Theofanis Bakoulas due to a knee injury, while defender Francisco Ortega and striker Mehdi Taremi are rated as doubts.

Bayer forward Eliesse Ben Seghir is still sidelined with an ankle injury he sustained during Morocco's run to last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final. Janis Blaswich will continue in goal as Mark Flekken is out with a knee injury.

Olympiakos vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds

Olympiakos are the marginal favourites to win on the night at 8/5, with Bayer Leverkusen priced at 7/4 and a draw 12/5.

A both teams to score - 'yes' bet pays out at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is 10/11, while a price boost on offer for Both Teams to Score, Olympiakos 5+ Shots on Target, Bayer Leverkusen 5+ Shots on Target & Both Teams to Receive a Card is 13/2 (was 11/2).

Bayer Leverkusen to win 2 up early payout @ 13/8

Olympiakos picked up just two points from their first five league phase games before rattling off three wins in a row to force their way into the play-off places. That run included a 2-0 victory over Bayer at the Karaiskakis Stadium, but a repeat looks unlikely.

Bayer dominated in Greece last month despite suffering a defeat, conceding from Olympiakos’ only two shots on target, forcing six saves themselves, dominating possession, and posting an xG of 2.58 to their hosts’ 1.13.

Since that meeting, Bayer have hit their stride with five wins and no defeats in their last six games - scoring 15 goals and conceding just two in the process.

In contrast, Olympiakos’ form has dipped since the league phase ended and they have just one win in their last four games, failing to score in their last two, so the German outfit look well placed to take their revenge and secure a first-leg lead on Wednesday.

However, Olympiakos will be desperate to stay in the tie, so it could be worth backing an away win with a 2-up early pay-out rather than a straightforward Bayer victory.

Alejandro Grimaldo to score anytime @ 4/1

Bayer wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo is his side’s top scorer in the Champions League with four goals, and as a bit of an outside contender, he looks good value to get on the scoresheet in Piraeus.

The Spaniard averages 1.8 attempts per-game in Europe and shoots with an accuracy rate of just under 50 per cent.

Grimaldo has recorded a shot in every single appearance he has made in the Champions League this season and has scored against the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle, so he could add to his haul in the first leg on Wednesday.

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