OFI v Bayer Leverkusen: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups and team news
Leverkusen arrive in Crete as heavy favourites with two wins from two and no goals conceded, while OFI try to bounce back from defeat at Rennes.
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Round hook
Bayer Leverkusen go to Crete on Thursday with a place in the top eight, and an automatic last-16 spot, firmly in their sights. The Germans sit second in the Europa League table on six points from two games, with a goal difference of plus six.
OFI sit 18th on three points after matchday three of the league stage. They have already beaten Hoffenheim 2-0 at home, but lost 2-1 at Rennes last week. Bet365 make the hosts 13/1 to win at the Pankritio Stadium, which tells its own story.
OFI
Bayer LeverkusenHow they got here
OFI's league phase has been a mix of strong home form and a slip on the road. They beat Hoffenheim 2-0 in Greece, then lost 2-1 away at Rennes on 15 October. Before that, they knocked out CSKA Sofia with a 3-0 home win and a 2-0 away win in qualifying. Across those four games they have scored eight and conceded two, and have kept three clean sheets.
Leverkusen have been ruthless. They beat Celje 2-0 at home on 16 September, then won 4-0 at Lech Poznan on 15 October. That is six goals scored, none conceded, and an average of 19.5 shots per game with 58.5% possession. Their average xG of 3.57 across the two games suggests the scoreline at Poznan was no fluke.
Rotation context
Neither side has an obvious reason to rotate heavily. OFI are chasing a top-24 finish and have only three points, so they need a result from a home game. Leverkusen are trying to bank a top-eight finish early and spare themselves the play-off round.
The visitors have injury problems, which will force changes anyway. Several attacking options are out, so expect a settled spine behind a reshuffled front line.
OFIBayer Leverkusen
Line-ups
OFI3-4-3- 1GK. Lilo
- 5DK. Kostoulas
- 15DA. Poungouras
- 2DK. Krizmanić
- 24ML. Dickmann
- 14MT. Androutsos
- 41MA. Bouchalakis
- 3MN. Athanasiou
- 10FAitor Cantalapiedra
- 19FK. Kodro
- 18FT. Nuss
Bayer Leverkusen4-2-3-1- 28GJ. Blaswich
- 17DLucas Vázquez
- 5DL. Badé
- 4DJ. Quansah
- 2DF. Medina
- 6ME. Fernández
- 24MAleix García
- 9MAfonso Moreira
- 10MM. Tillman
- 7MJ. Hofmann
- 14FP. Schick
Where to watch OFI v Bayer Leverkusen: TV and online streams
The game kicks off at 17:45 BST on Thursday 22 October at the Pankritio Stadium. A UK broadcaster has not been confirmed for this fixture, and this page will be updated closer to kick-off.
This is a single league-stage match, so there is no extra time or penalty shoot-out. The result is settled after 90 minutes.
Stats for OFI v Bayer Leverkusen
- OFI have won both home games in 2026/27 European competition by an aggregate of 5-0, and have kept two clean sheets at home.
- Leverkusen have not conceded a goal in their two Europa League games, and won 4-0 away at Lech Poznan on 15 October.
- OFI average 38.8% possession and concede 8 corners per game across their last four matches.
- Leverkusen average 19.5 shots per game, 9 of them on target, across their two league-stage fixtures.
Match Result: Bayer Leverkusen to win
Leverkusen have scored six and conceded none, with an average xG of 3.57, and OFI average under 40% possession. The hosts' home record and the visitors' injury list keep the margin modest, but the gap in quality should tell. Leverkusen to win and keep another clean sheet.