Olympiacos downed: Werkself celebrate after Schick brace in play-off first leg

Bayer 04 fielded the same starting XI that saw off FC St. Pauli 4-0 in the Bundesliga. As expected, Olympiacos pressed high from the start, but the Werkself were better prepared this time and had their first gilt-edged chance in the 16th minute, when Lucas Vázquez’ lob found Ibrahim Maza, who set up Patrik Schick in the centre, but Olympiacos keeper Kostas Tzolakis proved equal to the Czech’s effort. Ernest Poku’s low shot from a tight angle soon went wide of the right-hand post (17’).

Maza hits the bar – Olympiacos’ goal denied by var

The Werkself increasingly camped out around the home side’s box and Exequiel Palacios soon found Schick, who teed up Maza, but Tzolakis directed the latter’s volleyed effort onto the bar (29’) – the biggest chance of the game so far. Maza released the charging Poku, who had only the Olympiacos keeper to beat but put his effort wide of the left-hand post (31’). The missed chances almost came back to Bayer 04 when Ayoub El Kaabi headed in from Rodinei’s free-kick (45’+1), but referee Joao Pinheiro disallowed the goal after VAR intervened because Medhi Taremi was in close proximity to El Kaabi and actively interfered from an offside position (45’+3). The Portuguese referee blew for half-time after eight minutes of added time.

Olympiacos laid down the first marker after the restart with another dangerous set piece, but sub Giulian Biancone, who had come on for Lorenzo Pirola, aimed too high from Christos Mouzakitis’ free-kick (53’). Bayer 04’s Alejandro Grimaldo let fly at the other end (57’), but his shot lacked power.

Schick crowns counter and corner to bag brace

The Black and Reds soon celebrated when Poku won the ball in his own half, initiated a counter and set up Schick, who kept his cool against Tzolakis to hand Bayer 04 the lead (60’). The Czech marksman rounded off his brace just three minutes later when he headed home from Grimaldo’s corner (63’). The home side were rattled by the double strike, with the Werkself asserting their dominance. Olympiacos went looking for a reply in the closing stages, but Robert Andrich & Co. were solid at the back and achieved a good position for the return leg in Leverkusen on Tuesday, 24 February, at 21:00 CET.

Up next: Away at Union Berlin

The Werkself will be back in action when they travel to face 1. FC Union Berlin in the German capital on Matchday 23 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. Kick-off at the Alte Försterei is on Saturday 21 February, at 15:30 CET

Match stats:

Olympiakos: Tzolakis - Rodinei, Retsos, Pirola (Biancone 46’), Ortega (Onyemaechi 82’) - Mouzakitis, Hezze (Scipioni 82’) - Gelson Martins, Taremi (Chiquinho 64’), Podence (Luiz 64’) - El Kaabi

Bayer 04: Blaswich - Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba - Vázquez (Arthur 77’), Palacios, Garcia (Fernández 87’), Grimaldo - Maza (Tillman 64’), Poku (Terrier 76’) - Schick (Kofane 87’)

Goals:0-1 Schick (60’), 0-2 Schick (63’)

Yellow cards: El Kaabi - Garcia

Referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR)​