Olympiakos and NEC Battle to Goalless Draw in Champions League Qualifier

Piraeus, Greece – The UEFA Champions League third qualifying round commenced with a tactical stalemate as Greek giants Olympiakos played host to Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, resulting in a goalless draw at Karaiskakis Stadium. The outcome leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg, scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Stadion De GoffertVenue·Stadion De Goffert in Nijmegen.

NEC Nijmegen, making a notable return to European competition, delivered a disciplined performance away from home. The Dutch club is riding the momentum of a historic 2025/26 season, which saw them finish third in the EredivisieCompetition·Eredivisie – their best-ever league campaign – and reach the KNVB CupCompetition·KNVB Cup final. Their strong domestic form culminated in a 2-1 home victory over Go Ahead EaglesTeam·Go Ahead Eagles in their final EredivisieCompetition·Eredivisie match.

Olympiakos, who secured a runner-up finish in the Greek Super League during the 2025/26 season, entered the match seeking to establish an advantage on home soil. Their last Super League fixture of the previous campaign was a 1-1 away draw against AEK AthensTeam·AEK Athens, with RodineiPlayer·Rodinei finding the net.

The first leg saw Olympiakos command more possession, holding 54% of the ball, and registering more shots on target, with 5 compared to NEC's 4. However, NEC's defensive organisation proved resilient, frustrating the Greek side's attacking efforts. Midfielders Jamiro Monteiro and Noé Lebreton both had opportunities to break the deadlock for the visitors, underscoring their threat on the counter.

NEC also introduced veteran forward Dusan Tadic, a new signing, from the bench for his debut, adding experience to their attacking options. Notably, the Dutch side played without midfielder Kodai Sano, who is reportedly nearing a transfer to PSV EindhovenTeam·PSV Eindhoven.

With the aggregate score level at 0-0, the second leg in Nijmegen promises to be a compelling encounter. The winner of this tie will advance to the UEFA Champions League play-off round, where they will face either Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium or Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, with a coveted spot in the lucrative group stages at stake.