Olympiacos F.C. Vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings: Dominant Display Secures 2-0 Win

Olympiacos secured a 2–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki in the UEFA Champions League. The home side made a strong start and showed greater efficiency in front of goal.

Olympiacos took the lead in the second minute. Costinha scored with a free header from Rodinei’s corner, directing the ball into the bottom-left corner. Leverkusen responded well and created several chances. Vázquez missed two clear opportunities. Goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made an excellent save with his shoulder to deny the first effort, before Vázquez shot over from close range moments later.

Leverkusen were punished for these misses just before halftime. Mehdi Taremi doubled Olympiacos’ lead in stoppage time with a well-placed finish at the near post.

In the second half, Leverkusen pushed for a comeback. Maza and substitute Patrik Schick both had close-range chances, but Tzolakis remained in strong form and kept his goal intact. Olympiacos defended well and managed the game to secure the win.

Despite creating fewer chances, Olympiacos were more clinical. They recorded six shots, with two on target, and an expected goals value of 1.13. Leverkusen had 17 shots, six on target, and an xG of 2.37, but failed to convert their opportunities.

The result leaves Leverkusen in 19th place in the Champions League league-phase table. Olympiacos sit in 22nd place, one point behind their opponents. In this article, check out Sportsdunia's Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

1. Costinha scored in the second minute with a free header from Rodinei’s corner to give Olympiacos an early lead.
2. Taremi doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time after Leverkusen missed several clear chances.
3. Goalkeeper Tzolakis made crucial saves in the second half to preserve Olympiacos’ clean sheet.

Olympiacos Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen

Here are Olympiacos player ratings from the UEFA Champions League game:

Goalkeeper

Konstantinos Tzolakis - 8.5: What a wall. From our perspective, Tzolakis was the difference-maker. He made a staggering six saves, four of them from inside the box, to keep a vital clean sheet. We noticed his command of the area, especially with two good high claims that relieved pressure. He was a calming presence when Bayer 04 Leverkusen started piling on the shots. A truly exceptional performance that secured the victory.

Defenders

Francisco Ortega - 7.0: A really solid, no-nonsense performance from the full-back. He was defensively sound, winning most of his duels and making an impressive five tackles and eight clearances. He wasn't always tidy in possession, which is why he doesn't get a higher rating, but his primary job was to defend, and he did it very well. He was a tough nut to crack on that left flank.

Lorenzo Pirola - 6.5: Pirola had a decent game before being substituted. He read the game well, evidenced by his four interceptions, and he was strong in the air winning 80% of his aerial duels. He did his part to keep the defensive structure solid for the 73 minutes he was on the pitch. A quiet but effective outing.

Costinha - 8.0: What a display. He set the tone with a powerful header for the opening goal just two minutes in. But his contributions didn't stop there; he was a monster at the back making an incredible 11 clearances. He put his body on the line and was a true leader for the defense. Scored a goal and kept a clean sheet. You can't ask for much more from your defender.

Panagiotis Retsos - 7.0: The captain led by example. He picked up an early yellow card which was a bit worrying, but he managed the rest of the game with immense professionalism. His stats speak for themselves: nine clearances, four tackles, and some crucial last-man challenges. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure, refusing to be baited into another mistake. A real captain's performance.

Midfielders

Gelson Martins - 6.5: A tireless worker on the wing. While he didn't have a massive impact on the scoresheet, his defensive work rate and willingness to track back were important. He won a majority of his duels and drew a couple of fouls to relieve pressure. A functional, if not flashy, performance before he was subbed off.

Chiquinho - 7.0: He was absolutely everywhere before his unfortunate injury. With six ball recoveries and a high pass completion rate, he was key to disrupting Leverkusen's rhythm. He was the engine in the midfield, linking defense and attack effectively. It was a real shame to see him go off, he was having a great game.

Rodinei - 8.5: Simply sensational. This is the performance that wins you football matches. He delivered two perfect assists creating two big chances that his teammates buried. From our perspective, he was the Man of the Match. Every time he got the ball, he looked like a threat, and his delivery was sublime. An electrifying performance down the right flank.

Santiago Hezze - 7.0: The unsung hero in the middle of the park. While others grabbed the headlines, Hezze did the dirty work exceptionally well. He recovered the ball 10 times and made three key interceptions. He was the shield for the back four, constantly breaking up play and frustrating the opposition. A disciplined and intelligent performance.

Christos Mouzakitis - 6.5: A steady presence in midfield. He kept the ball moving and played his role without any fuss. While he didn't produce any standout moments, he was reliable in possession and contributed to the team's solid structure. A decent performance from the young midfielder.

Forwards

Mehdi Taremi - 7.5: He provided the killer blow. His goal just before halftime was a moment of pure opportunism on the counter-attack, and it completely changed the complexion of the tie. He worked hard, held the ball up, and took his chance when it came. His goal was the perfect reward for a hard-working striker's performance.

Substitutes

Dani García - N/A: Came on late to help see out the game.

Giulian Biancone - N/A: Brought on to shore up the defense in the final stages.

Ayoub El Kaabi - N/A: Replaced the goalscorer Taremi and provided fresh legs up front.

Bruno Onyemaechi - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Lorenzo Scipioni - N/A: An injury replacement for the impressive Chiquinho.

Manager

J. Mendilibar Etxebarria - 8.0: A tactical masterclass from the manager. His plan to strike early, absorb pressure, and hit on the counter worked to perfection. His team looked organized, disciplined, and motivated. He made the right substitutions at the right time to manage the game and secure a massive win.

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Olympiacos

Let's take a look at Bayer Leverkusen player ratings from the UCL clash:

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 5.5: A really tough night for the keeper. He conceded two goals and didn't register a single save in the match stats. The first goal was a close-range header he could do little about, but you expect your keeper to command his box better. He was a spectator for much of the game, a very frustrating experience for him.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 6.0: He was comfortable on the ball, as his high pass accuracy shows, but he looked vulnerable defensively. He was caught out for the second goal on the counter and seemed to struggle with the pace of the Olympiacos F.C. attack at times. Not his best night.

Loïc Badé - 7.0: A strange performance to rate. His individual stats are excellent – he created chances, won his duels, and recovered the ball frequently. However, he was part of a defense that conceded twice and looked shaky. He personally played well, but it wasn't enough to prevent the defeat. A bright spark in a losing effort.

Robert Andrich - 5.5: As the captain, we expected more from him. He had a very quiet game, failing to impose himself on the match. With only one duel contested the entire game, his lack of involvement was surprising. His team needed a leader, and he was largely anonymous.

Midfielders

Ezequiel Fernández - 7.5: He was one of the few Leverkusen players who can hold their head high. He was constantly trying to drive his team forward, winning an impressive 10 duels and creating three chances. He never stopped fighting and showed real quality on the ball. It felt like he was playing a lone hand at times.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 6.5: A frustrating performance to watch. He had more touches than anyone but was so wasteful in the final third. His crossing was particularly poor, with only one of his eight attempts finding a teammate. He had a few shots on target but never truly tested the keeper. All style, no substance on the night.

Lucas Vázquez - 5.5: A very disappointing outing. The game will be remembered for the two big chances he missed. For a player of his quality, you expect better composure in front of goal. He was hooked before the hour mark, and frankly, it was no surprise.

Aleix García - 7.0: The metronome in midfield, he completed over 100 passes. However, most of his work was done in areas that didn't hurt Olympiacos. He controlled possession but couldn't find the killer pass to unlock a very organized defense. It was a lot of sterile domination without any real cutting edge.

Forwards

Ernest Poku - 6.0: He showed flashes of his ability with some driving runs, but he was ultimately ineffective. He was often isolated and struggled to get into the game. His decision-making in the final third let him down on a few occasions. A learning experience for the attacker.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.0: Similar to his forward partners, he huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the house down. He got into some good positions but his finishing was off. He had a few shots blocked and couldn't provide the spark his team desperately needed.

Christian Kofane - 5.0: From our perspective, he was the worst player on the pitch. He missed two glaring, big chances that could have changed the game. His performance was summed up by his needless yellow card. A night to forget, and one that proved costly for his team.

Substitutes

Malik Tillman - N/A: Came on and had a shot blocked but couldn't change the result.

Arthur - N/A: Provided an assist for a chance that was saved.

Patrik Schick - N/A: Had one good chance saved late on.

Montrell Culbreath - N/A: Brought on for the final 10 minutes with little impact.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 5.0: His team dominated possession but had absolutely no idea how to score. They were tactically outmaneuvered by a simple but effective counter-attacking strategy. He failed to find a solution to break down the low block and his team looked toothless in attack. A very poor showing from the manager.

Man of the Match

Rodinei of Olympiacos was the player of the match with 8.5/10 ratings.

Worst Performer

Christian Kofane missed a couple of chances for Leverkusen and had a rating of 5/10.