As the UEFA Champions League league phase heats up, all eyes turn to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, where Olympiacos FC will host Real Madrid on November 26, 2025. This clash pits the Greek Super League leaders against the Spanish giants in a fixture laden with history and high stakes. For Olympiacos, a positive result could breathe life into their faltering European campaign, while Real Madrid aim to solidify their top-eight position and end a mini-slump. Below, we break down the head-to-head record, key match details, predicted lineups, and our score forecast.
Head-to-Head Record
Olympiacos and Real Madrid have met eight times in European competition, all in the UEFA Champions League, with the Spanish side holding a clear edge overall. Real Madrid have won four encounters, Olympiacos just one, and three have ended in draws. Notably, Los Blancos have scored 18 goals to Olympiacos’ nine across these ties.
However, the narrative shifts dramatically on Greek soil. Olympiacos remain unbeaten against Real Madrid in Piraeus, with three draws and that solitary 2-1 victory in December 2005—the only time the Reds have triumphed in the fixture. Their last meeting in Greece, a 0-0 stalemate in November 2007, underscores the hosts’ resilience at home. All four of Real Madrid’s wins have come at the Santiago Bernabéu, making this a potential history-making night for Xabi Alonso’s men.
Match Details
- Date and Time: Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 20:00 UTC (3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT).
- Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece (capacity: 32,115). The iconic “Gate 7” end will roar with red-and-white passion, as Olympiacos boast an unbeaten run in their last nine European home games (five wins, four draws).
- Competition: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase, Matchday 5.
- Current Standings: Olympiacos sit 31st with just two points from four games (draws vs. Pafos and PSV Eindhoven; losses to Arsenal and Barcelona), averaging 0.5 goals per match while conceding 2.25. Real Madrid are seventh with nine points (wins over Marseille, Kairat Almaty, and Juventus; a 1-0 loss at Liverpool), boasting a +6 goal difference.
- Recent Form:
- Olympiacos: Unbeaten in five across all competitions (WWWW D), including a 3-0 thrashing of Atromitos in the Super League, where they lead by two points.
- Real Madrid: Winless in three (DD L), drawing 2-2 at Elche in La Liga after a frustrating 1-0 UCL defeat to Liverpool. They’ve lost three of their last four away games without scoring.
Potential Lineups
Both sides face injury challenges, but core talents shine through. Olympiacos, under José Luis Mendilibar, favor a compact 4-2-3-1 to counter Real’s flair, while Alonso may tweak his 4-3-3 for balance amid a defensive injury crisis.
Olympiacos Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Konstantinos Tzolakis
- DEF: Rodinei, Panagiotis Retsos, Lorenzo Pirola, Francisco Ortega
- MID: Santiago Hezze, Dani Garcia (one booking from suspension)
- ATT: Gelson Martins, Chiquinho, Daniel Podence
- FW: Ayoub El Kaabi (10 goals in 16 games this season)
Subs: Alexandros Paschalakis (GK), Bruno Onyemaechi (injured, out). El Kaabi’s pace and pressing (tournament leader) will test Real’s backline.
Real Madrid Predicted XI (4-3-3)
- GK: Andriy Lunin (Thibaut Courtois sidelined)
- DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raúl Asencio, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Álvaro Carreras
- MID: Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham
- ATT: Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Subs: Dean Huijsen (injured, out). Absences include Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, and Franco Mastantuono. Mbappé (9 UCL goals) and Bellingham (4 goals, key creator) lead the line.
These setups suggest a tactical chess match: Olympiacos’ intensity vs. Real’s star power.
Score Prediction
Olympiacos enter buoyant, unbeaten at home in Europe and fresh off domestic dominance, but their UCL woes (nine goals conceded in three recent games) expose vulnerabilities. Real Madrid, despite away struggles, possess firepower to break their Greek duck—Mbappé and Vinícius have created 10 chances combined this season. Historical trends favor goals, and both teams scoring is likely given Olympiacos’ home potency and Real’s leaky defense.
We predict a hard-fought Olympiacos 1-2 Real Madrid.
