Comments and predictions for Olympiacos vs Pafos: Suffocating the rookie
The match between Olympiacos vs Pafos in the Champions League takes place at 11:45 p.m. on September 17. Nghe An Newspaper analyzes performance, makes football comments and predicts the score.
Latest Olympiacos vs Pafos team information
Mendilibar are racing against time to secure the services of Gelson Martins, who was forced off in the previous game, while right-back Rodinei is also a doubt.
With goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis suspended, Alexandros Paschalakis is expected to start, while striker Roman Yaremchuk is still nursing a muscle injury.
Mehdi Taremi is likely to make his first start after coming off the bench and scoring twice in last weekend's win, so the former Inter Milan striker could be tasked with leading the attack.
Derrick Luckassen was sent off in the domestic defeat to Apollon, but the suspension does not apply in Europe, so the 23-year-old centre-back will continue to feature in defence.
David Goldar is likely to partner Luckassen, although veteran centre-back David Luiz is another option for the visitors.
Although Jaja scored the decisive goal in the qualifiers, Carcedo is unlikely to make many changes to an already stable squad, so the 24-year-old could continue to be retained as a strategic reserve.
Latest expected lineup Olympiacos vs Pafos
Olympiacos:
Paschalakis; Ortega, Biancone, Retsos, Costinha; Nascimento, Garcia; Podence, Chiquinho, Strefezza; Taremi
Pafos FC:
Michael; Langa, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas; Sunjic, Pepe; Bruno, Dragomir, Orsic; Andersen
Latest football commentary on Olympiacos vs Pafos
An improved UEFA coefficient has helped Olympiacos secure a direct place in the Champions League after winning the 2024-25 Super League, marking their first automatic berth in more than a decade.
The 48-time Greek champions return to the big stage, and this will be their 36th appearance in the group stage, continuing to assert their position in Europe's top tournament.
The absence from the Champions League did not stop Olympiacos from making history on the continental stage, as they won their first European trophy with a victory over Fiorentina in the 2023-24 Conference League final.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's men head into Wednesday night's game with confidence brimming after scoring five goals against Panserraikos at the Karaiskakis Stadium, moving them top of the Super League and extending their perfect start to the 2025-26 season with nine goals scored and none conceded.
The Piraeus team have also won five of their last seven home games in European competition (drawing two), so they have every reason to believe they will take all the points in what is considered the easiest match of the group stage.
Olympiacos have a busy schedule in their eight group games, with away trips to Barcelona and Arsenal – two semi-finalists last season – while a home game against Real Madrid is also not going to be easy.
The pressure is on Pafos, who have made history by reaching the group stage after just one season on their European debut in the Conference League, where they crashed out in the round of 16.
The past two years under Carcedo have seen a series of important milestones: starting with the 2023-24 Cypriot Cup title, followed by the 2024-25 National Championship title – thereby qualifying for the Champions League.
The ticket was sealed in dramatic fashion, with Pafos overcoming Crvena Zvezda thanks to Jaja's 88th-minute equaliser in the second leg in Cyprus, after winning the first leg in Serbia.
Carcedo's side are unbeaten in six qualifying games and can be confident they can cause a shock against Olympiacos – who have failed to win 18 of their last 20 Champions League group stage games.
However, Pafos will need to quickly forget their first defeat of the season, as they lost 0-1 at home to Apollon Limassol in the league on Saturday.
Latest score prediction Olympiacos vs Pafos
Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Olympiacos vs Pafosas follows:
- Sportsmole:Olympiacos 2-0 Pafos
- WhoScore:Olympiacos 2-1 Pafos
- Our newspaper predicts:Olympiacos 2-0 Pafos
When and where to watch Olympiacos vs Pafos live?
To watch the live match Olympiacos vs Pafos in the Champions League taking place at 11:45 p.m. on September 17, viewers can watch onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.
