In front of a packed “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium, Olympiacos played their first official match of the new season but were unable to secure victory and take the advantage in the race for qualification. The Reds were held to a 0-0 draw by NEC Nijmegen, despite pushing for the goal that could have made the difference and creating opportunities that went unconverted.
Qualification for the UEFA Champions League play-offs will now be decided in the second leg, which will take place in the Netherlands on Wednesday, 11 August.
OLYMPIACOS (Jose Luis Mendilibar): Popovic, Bruno, Carmo (56′ Pirola), Retsos (64′ Smailovic), Saliakas (56′ Maffeo), Garcia, Mouzakitis, Chiquinho (56′ Zota Silva), Roca (46′ Martins), Rodinei, El Kaabi.
NEC Nijmegen (Dick Schreuder): Crettaz Ortega, Storm (70′ Pereira), Sandler (74′ Hansen-Aaroen), Fonville, Ouaissa (70′ Mor), Monteiro (90′ Willumsson), Nejasmic, Lebreton, Chery, Bischoff, Linssen (74′ Tadic).
