NEC drawn against Olympiakos Piraeus, Southern Europe trip awaits

Today (Vandaag) the UEFA draw confirmed that NEC will meet Olympiakos Piraeus in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, a tie that opens a potential trip to Zuid‑Europa. The Dutch side must navigate a two‑legged duel to stay alive in Europe’s premier competition.

The first leg is scheduled for 4 or 5 August, with the return match on 11 August. Both games will be decided over the two legs, and the decisive encounter will be played at Het Goffertstadion in Nijmegen.

If the Nijmegenaren lose the tie, they will drop directly into the group stage of the Europa League, bypassing any further qualifying rounds for that tournament. This safety net guarantees them a European campaign regardless of the Champions League outcome.

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Unlike FC Twente and Ajax, who start their European journeys in the second qualifying round of the Europa League and Conference League respectively, NEC enters directly into the Champions League third round under head coach Dick Schreuder.

Schreuder’s squad must overcome Olympiakos, the 2024 Conference League winners and record champions of Greece, who finished second in their domestic league last season. Olympiakos previously reached the Champions League group stage, beating Ajax 1‑2 before exiting against Bayer Leverkusen.

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NEC finished third in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, one point ahead of fourth‑placed FC Twente, and secured their first European campaign since 2008/09 after the departure of players such as Basar Önal.

The club will host the decisive second leg at Het Goffertstadion, and a victory would see them advance to the Champions League play‑offs, the final hurdle before the lucrative group stage.