Olympiacos 0-2 Leverkusen Player Ratings: Patrik Schick 9/10 MOTM as Leverkusen Easied Past the Host in 1st Leg

A game that hung in the balance for nearly an hour was blown wide open in the blink of an eye at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis. Bayer 04 Leverkusen showed exactly why elite European sides punish hesitation, striking twice in three ruthless minutes to leave Olympiacos F.C. stunned on their own turf.

For long stretches, this felt tight and tense. Olympiacos had their moments, even seeing a goal ruled out by VAR just before the break, a decision that sucked the air out of the stadium and shifted the emotional tide. But where the hosts hesitated, Leverkusen were clinical. Patrik Schick, quiet for much of the contest, exploded into life with a sharp counter-attacking finish before rising highest from a corner moments later to double the advantage.

That brief spell told the entire story. The host pushed, created half-chances, and showed flashes of quality through Mouzakitis and Gelson Martins, yet they lacked the cutting edge. Leverkusen, on the other hand, defended with authority and struck with precision. It wasn’t a demolition built on dominance; it was one built on timing, composure, and elite finishing. Here are the full Sportsdunia's Olympiacos vs Leverkusen player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Schick proved once again that elite strikers only need seconds to change a game.
• Leverkusen’s defensive core, led by Tapsoba and Andrich, handled pressure calmly.
• Olympiacos created chances but lacked the final touch to truly test Blaswich.

Olympiacos Player Ratings vs Leverkusen

Here are the Olympiacos player ratings against Bayer Leverkusen.

Goalkeeper

Konstantinos Tzolakis - 6.0: He made a couple of decent saves, including one from Grimaldo's long-range effort. However, he was left completely exposed for both goals. Couldn't do much about either strike, but conceding twice in three minutes is never a good look for a keeper. His distribution was a bit shaky, with possession lost 16 times.

Defenders

Francisco Ortega - 6.0: An average performance from the left-back before being substituted. He tried to get forward, putting in three crosses, but lost the ball too often. Defensively, he was caught out during Leverkusen's quick-fire salvo. A mixed bag, really.

Lorenzo Pirola - 5.5: His evening was cut short by injury just before halftime, which was a real shame. In his 45 minutes, he was solid enough, winning his duels and looking composed. His departure unsettled the backline, and one has to wonder what might have been if he'd stayed on.

Rodinei - 5.5: The right-back was a willing runner, constantly bombing forward and delivering 10 crosses. The problem was the quality, as only one found its mark. He lost possession a staggering 17 times, which killed momentum. Defensively, he was part of a unit that collapsed when it mattered most.

Panagiotis Retsos - 6.5: As captain, he put in a real shift. We noticed his 11 ball recoveries and four clearances; he was throwing himself at everything. However, the defense he led fell apart for that crucial three-minute period. A committed performance undermined by a brief, but fatal, lapse in concentration from the whole backline.

Midfielders

Gelson Martins - 6.0: He was one of Olympiacos's brighter sparks in attack, always looking to make something happen. He had a great shot saved in the first half and was a constant dribbling threat. What stood out to us, though, was his lack of a final product. All effort, no reward.

Santiago Hezze - 5.5: A very busy but ultimately frustrating night for Hezze. He created a couple of chances and had a high pass accuracy, but he struggled in the duels, winning only three of eleven. He was dribbled past three times, showing a vulnerability in the heart of midfield that Leverkusen exploited.

Daniel Podence - 5.0: From our perspective, this was a surprisingly quiet game from a player of his quality. He was almost invisible for large spells, losing possession 13 times in just 64 minutes. He just couldn't get into the game and his substitution was no surprise.

Christos Mouzakitis - 7.0: The youngster was arguably Olympiacos's best player on the night. He created four chances, including one big chance, and was the creative hub. He was always looking for that killer pass. Unfortunately, his forwards couldn't capitalize on his good work.

Mehdi Taremi - 6.0: Scored a goal that was agonizingly ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. That moment summed up his and his team's night – so close, yet so far. He worked hard and won a lot of duels but couldn't make the decisive impact he wanted.

Forwards

Ayoub El Kaabi - 5.5: A very disappointing performance. He toiled away but was ineffective, managing only two blocked shots. He picked up a needless yellow card and lost three of his four duels. He just wasn't at the races and offered little threat.

Substitutes

Giulian Biancone - 5.5: Came on for the injured Pirola and missed a glaring header early in the second half. That could have changed the game.

André Luiz - 6.0: Added some energy but his shooting was wayward.

Chiquinho - 6.0: Had one shot blocked but couldn't change the flow of the match.

Lorenzo Scipioni - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Bruno Onyemaechi - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

J. Mendilibar Etxebarria - 5.0: His team started well and had a clear plan, but they were undone by a complete defensive collapse. He couldn't rally his troops after going behind, and his substitutions failed to make a significant impact. A tough night at the office for the manager.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Olympiacos

Check out the Bayer Leverkusen player ratings vs Olympiacos.

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 7.0: He wasn't overly busy, but what he had to do, he did well. Made a crucial save to deny Gelson Martins in the first half. A clean sheet away from home in the Champions League speaks for itself. A confident and composed performance.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was solid, made a few clearances, and didn't make any major errors. Part of a backline that secured a valuable clean sheet, so he gets credit for that.

Robert Andrich - 7.5: The captain led by example. A rock at the back, making a massive eight clearances. He was vocal, organized, and commanding. From our perspective, he was a key reason why Olympiacos struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Edmond Tapsoba - 8.0: What a performance. He seemed to be in the way of everything, blocking an incredible four shots. He was a colossal presence, reading the game beautifully and snuffing out danger before it developed. A truly dominant defensive display.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 8.5: Another masterclass from the wing-back. Defensively solid with three tackles and three interceptions. Going forward, he was a constant menace, delivering the pinpoint cross for Schick's second goal. His quality on the ball was evident throughout.

Lucas Vázquez - 6.5: A typically hardworking and diligent performance. He battled hard, winning five duels and putting in a real shift for the team. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but provided excellent balance and defensive cover on the right.

Aleix García - 7.0: The metronome in midfield. He controlled the tempo of the game with his exceptional passing, completing 90% of his 87 passes. He kept things ticking over smoothly before being substituted to a well-earned rest. His early yellow card was the only blemish.

Exequiel Palacios - 8.0: A powerhouse in the middle of the park. He had an incredible 106 touches, won nine duels, and recovered the ball eight times. He was everywhere, breaking up play and driving his team forward. A complete midfield performance.

Forwards

Patrik Schick - 9.0: Unquestionably the man of the match. He was quiet for long periods, but when the chances came, he was absolutely lethal. Two goals in three minutes – a composed finish and a powerful header – decided the game. A world-class display of striking instinct. Our highest rated player without a doubt.

Ernest Poku - 7.5: Provided the crucial assist for the opening goal after a blistering counter-attack. He was a constant threat with his pace and directness, creating two chances before his substitution. A very effective and impactful performance.

Ibrahim Maza - 7.0: A lively and creative display from the young attacker. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork, and he created two big chances for his teammates. He showed great promise and was a handful for the Olympiacos defense.

Substitutes

Malik Tillman - 6.0: Came on and helped see the game out without much fuss.

Martin Terrier - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Arthur - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ezequiél Fernández - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Christian Kofane - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 8.0: A perfect away performance game plan. His team absorbed pressure, stayed disciplined, and were ruthless when their moments arrived. His decision to trust the counter-attack paid off handsomely, and his management of the game after taking the lead was spot on.