Olympiacos Beat Leverkusen to Set Up an Ajax Final

Picture from Eurokinissi: Marilia Vassilakopoulou

Olympiacos got the win at home. Their first in front of the Karaiskaki faithful during the Champions League campaign following a thrilling 3-4 encounter against Real Madrid and a heartbreaking draw against PSV in a game where Thrylos should have taken the full 3 points in the bag. After a 2-0 defeat to PAOK and weeks of tension, dropped points in the league, and broken rhythm, Olympiacos needed a night like this. Not for aesthetics. Not for tactical purity. But for belief. And in front of a roaring Karaiskakis, Olympiacos delivered exactly that: three points, a clean sheet - second in a row - and control of their European destiny.

Coming into this match, the season felt like it was teetering. The Super Cup win had briefly masked deeper issues, but inconsistency, injuries, and frustration had been bubbling beneath the surface. The loss that against PAOK didn’t just hurt, it exposed fault lines. Fans began to question the team and coach José Luis Mendilibar. Others questioned the board. Some questioned the squad’s hunger altogether. That’s why this game had to be a win. Not a draw. Not a “good performance.” A win. And Olympiacos got it.

From the opening whistle, Olympiacos played like a team with something to prove. The press was ferocious. The lines were high. The message was unmistakable: we are not waiting tonight. Within 90 seconds, Karaiskakis erupted. A forced corner. A quality delivery from Rodinei and a bullet header from Costinha who netted his first goal for the club. Leverkusen were shell-shocked. The press continued. The midfield hunted in packs. Leverkusen were forced into rushed decisions they clearly hadn’t planned for. This was Olympiacos 'Mendiball' at its most primal: energy first, structure second, fear last.

Bayer Leverkusen moved the ball better. They controlled long stretches of possession. They found space down the flanks, especially on Olympiacos’ right side, and created chances that on another night would have changed the scoreline. But Olympiacos were ruthless with what they had. Two shots on target. Two goals. That’s not luck, that’s efficiency. And after being on the wrong end of “unfair football” earlier in the Champions League, this time the margins finally tilted red and white.

If there was one man who made this result possible, it was Kostantis Tzolakis. This was vintage Tzolakis. Calm. Sharp. Decisive. No reckless adventures. Just elite reflexes and positional discipline. Leverkusen’s expected goals suggested they should have scored at least twice. They didn’t. Because Tzolakis said no. Again. And again. And again. For all the noise around goalkeeping this season, this was a reminder: on his day, Tzolakis wins you European nights. Man of the Match.

Also, there are good performances. There are great performances. And then there's the bionic Santiago Hezze. Pressing, recovering, covering space, breaking transitions, tracking runners all the way back to his own box. He even played the outlet pass that led to Rodinei that led to the second goal at the end of the first half.

José Luis Mendilibar deserves credit for the setup and the initial intensity in the first half. For the first time this season, we also saw the return of the Costinha-Rodinei duo on the right hand side. An approach that served us well last season in the Europa League. But the second half told a familiar story. As Olympiacos tired, Leverkusen began to pin them deeper. The warning signs were there. Legs were gone. The midfield needed fresh energy and someone to put a foot on the ball. The wings were exposed.

The substitutions came. Just too late. It didn’t cost Olympiacos this time. But it’s a habit that has punished them before.

Forget tactics for a moment. Forget formations and substitutions. The most important takeaway from this night was emotional. These players fought. Every single one. Even those who struggled technically ran themselves into the ground. Sprinting back. Chasing lost causes. Protecting transitions. Emptying the tank. That answers the biggest question of all: This squad has not quit. This dressing room still believes. And that changes everything.

Now the equation is simple. A win against Ajax sends Olympiacos into the knockout rounds of the Champions League. No calculators. No prayers. No permutations. If Olympiacos want control, they must take it. The intensity shown against Leverkusen must return and be sustained longer. Because Ajax may not forgive fatigue the way Leverkusen did.

This wasn’t beautiful football. It wasn’t complete football. But it was necessary football. A night that steadied the ship. A night that reminded everyone what Karaiskakis still does to opponents. A night that set up another final. Momentum is a fragile thing. Olympiacos finally have it back and the next round is in sight. Next stop: Amsterdam.

FOR MORE CHECK OUT ARI'S REACTION TO THE GAME ON YOUTUBE !