BETTING GUIDE: Barcelona vs Olympiacos, Match Preview, Team News and Prediction
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Reading Time: 5min | Mon. 20.10.25. | 19:37
This game offers both sides a chance to revitalise their campaigns - for Barcelona, it is about asserting dominance at home, and for Olympiacos, finally breaking their goal drought and climbing into contention
Barcelona return to UEFA Champions League (UCL) action with a crucial home tie against Greek champions Olympiacos.
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Hansi Flick’s men will aim to bounce back from a narrow 2-1 defeat to Paris-Saint Germain last time out.
With three points from their opening two games, the Spanish giants find themselves in mid-table and cannot afford to slip up, especially at home where they boast a formidable European record.
The Catalan side are currently 16th in the UCL league standings, just two points above their opponents Olympiacos, who sit in 29th place.
This game offers both sides a chance to revitalize their campaigns - for Barcelona, it is about asserting dominance at home, and for Olympiacos, finally breaking their goal drought and climbing into contention.
Barcelona come into this clash with renewed confidence after a hard-fought 2-1 LaLiga win over Girona last weekend, ending a brief run of two straight defeats.
While the loss to PSG was their first UCL home defeat in over two years, there is cause for optimism - they have only lost twice across their last 13 home fixtures in the UCL league phase (W8, D3), underlining their home reputation as a fortress.
More significantly, they had gone eight UCL league phase matches unbeaten (W7, D1) before that PSG encounter, and they will look to rekindle that form.
Olympiacos, meanwhile, travel to Spain with a heavy historical burden.
Greek clubs have never won a European away match on Spanish soil (D4, L17), and Olympiacos themselves have lost 14 of 16 such games.
Their recent form in the Champions League has been underwhelming, having failed to score in their first two games and sitting on just one point - earned in a goalless draw at home to Pafos.
Their follow-up was a 2-0 away loss to Arsenal, and they remain without a goal in this UCL campaign.
Form-wise, Barcelona have won four of their last six matches in all competitions, scoring two or more goals in five of those outings.
Even in defeat, they have found the back of the net, highlighting their offensive depth.
Olympiacos, by contrast, have had a mixed run - three wins in their last six matches across all competitions, but crucially, no goals or wins in Europe this season.
Domestically, they sit second in the Greek Super League, having won their most recent fixture 2-0 away to AE Larissa, but UCL competition remains a much tougher challenge.
Barcelona’s attacking threat remains potent despite several injuries.
The absence of Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Gavi would typically raise concerns, but players like Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford have stepped up.
Yamal has scored four goals in his last five UCL home appearances and attempted at least four shots in each of those games, underlining his importance in Flick’s setup.
Torres, who missed the weekend match due to a knock, is being monitored but is expected to feature - his five LaLiga goals this season could be decisive if he returns.
In midfield, Barcelona continue to rely on control and tempo through Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, while their backline, anchored by Jules Koundé and supported by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, has generally remained solid at home, aside from the PSG game.
Flick’s 4-2-3-1 system places emphasis on wing play, overlapping fullbacks, and late midfield runs into the box - a setup that has worked well domestically.
Olympiacos have managed just one goal in their last seven UCL fixtures, but their defense has held firm in other European matches, keeping clean sheets in seven of their last 11 continental appearances.
José Luis Mendilibar’s side typically line up in a compact 4-2-3-1, relying on defensive solidity and counter-attacking transitions.
However, their UCL away form is poor - they have lost their last 11 away group-stage (league phase) matches in the competition, conceding at least two goals in each.
Key to their hopes is striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who has the joint-highest number of shots among strikers yet to score in this UCL campaign.
The Moroccan forward has a habit of scoring openers in Europe - netting first in each of his last eight European scoring appearances - and will be Olympiacos’ main outlet for any attacking threat.
They will be without Gabriel Strefezza, a creative presence in the final third, which further limits their offensive options.
Historically, this is just the third meeting between these two sides, with Barcelona winning once and drawing once.
The Catalans have also won all seven of their previous home games against Greek opposition. With Olympiacos yet to break their Spanish curse, the odds are heavily stacked in the home team’s favour.
Key Pointers
- Barcelona have won all four of their home LaLiga games this season with 13 goals scored
- Barcelona's loss to PSG was their first home Champions League defeat since the 2021-22 season
- Olympiacos have failed to score in their first two games in the UCL league phase
Statistically, the trends support a high-scoring affair. Ten of Barcelona’s 11 matches this season have produced over 2.5 goals, and they have scored at least twice in 11 of their last 13 UCL home games.
On the other hand, Olympiacos matches tend to see a high card count - 11 of their last 12 European games have seen four or more yellow cards - indicating a potentially scrappy contest if Barcelona dominate possession.
From a betting perspective, Barcelona are clear favourites to win, even without some of their key players.
Their strong home form, offensive depth, and Olympiacos’ poor European away record make a straightforward home win the logical pick.
However, with the Greeks often rising late in games and capable of creating from set pieces, both teams to score is not out of the question - particularly if El Kaabi gets service.
With home advantage, sharper attacking options, and the need to reassert themselves in Europe, Barcelona are expected to come out firing. Olympiacos may dig in defensively, but their travel record and lack of firepower make them unlikely to pull off an upset.
Prediction: Barcelona to Win & Over 2.5 Goals
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