Everything rests on Nijmegen tonight
Olympiacos 0–0 NEC in the first leg at Karaiskakis (2) (4) (5) (6). That was the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The second leg is tonight in the Netherlands. The tie is on a knife-edge, score away and you're in the playoff round. Fail to score and elimination is real.
Your team were whistled off in the first leg
The Karaiskakis crowd did not hold back. Whistles at full-time after a goalless draw where NEC were the better side in several departments. José Luis Mendilibar admitted the Dutch visitors were stronger than expected and the performance was below par, though he did not call the result a disaster given the circumstances (2). Greek media pointed to a lack of attacking urgency.
Schreuder gets his key man back for the second leg
NEC manager Dick Schreuder confirmed an unnamed player "is there tomorrow" after a fitness concern (6). He also warned his team against a specific trap Olympiacos set: "They do that very often" (5). NEC midfielder Tjaronn Chery dismissed any talk of fixture congestion, saying every player must simply be fit (4). The Dutch side are confident and at home.
Ugalde links swirl before the window closes
Olympiacos have been linked with Spartak Moscow striker Manfred Ugalde, valued at around €12 million (1). The Costa Rican forward would add depth to an attack that looked blunt in the first leg. No bid confirmed yet, just noise. But with Gabriel Strefezza already out the door to Palermo for €2.8 million, a signing up front would not surprise anyone.
Salah-Eddine: one last push
Olympiacos are preparing a final contact for left-back Anass Salah-Eddine (3). The club want to close this one before the window shuts. No agreement yet, but the intent is there.
