Olympiakos held to draw by NEC in Champions League qualifier

Olympiakos drew 0-0 with Dutch club NEC Nijmegen in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match on Tuesday. The encounter took place at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite opportunities on both sides. The result leaves the tie evenly poised heading into the second leg, which will be played at NEC's Goffertstadion in Nijmegen on August 11. The match began with both teams showing intent, though Olympiakos struggled to dominate possession or create meaningful chances. Their first real opportunity came in the 13th minute when Christos Mouzakitis delivered a corner that David Carmo headed toward goal. NEC goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz made a crucial stop, tipping the ball away just before it crossed the line. The Greek side continued to press, with Ayoub El Kaabi forcing another solid save from Crettaz shortly before halftime. After the break, NEC grew more dangerous, testing Olympiakos' defense with frequent attacks. Jamiro Monteiro, one of NEC's key players, had two shots on target that were well saved by Olympiakos' goalkeeper Balsa Popovic. Despite these threats, the visitors found it difficult to convert their chances into goals. Meanwhile, Olympiakos remained unable to generate consistent attacking play, often failing to penetrate the defensive lines set up by NEC. Olympiakos coach José Luis Mendilibar expressed disappointment with his team's performance following the match. He acknowledged that NEC's physicality and pace had taken them by surprise. "It was really something we had not expected," Mendilibar stated during an interview with Cosmote TV. "They were more aggressive and quicker. We struggled to create chances." He added that his squad needed to show greater intensity and better adaptation to the challenges posed by both the opposing team and the referee's decisions. "We have to improve many things," he emphasized. "Because we were not good today, 0-0 is not a bad result." Both teams displayed moments of quality throughout the game, but none could find the breakthrough needed to secure a victory. The draw sets up an intriguing second leg in the Netherlands, where Olympiakos will look to overturn the scoreline and advance to the Champions League playoff round. If they succeed, they would face either Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium or Bodo/Glimt from Norway in the next stage of the competition. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the Champions League qualifiers, where even established clubs must remain vigilant against less familiar opponents. For Olympiakos, maintaining their position in European football depends heavily on their ability to perform under pressure in the upcoming fixture. With the stakes high, the return leg promises to be a crucial test for both teams as they vie for progression in Europe's premier club competition.