As the UEFA Champions League league phase heats up, FC Barcelona vs Olympiacos on October 21, 2025, promises to be a pivotal clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. With Barcelona aiming to climb the standings after a mixed start and Olympiacos desperate for their first win, this matchup blends Catalan flair with Greek resilience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the head-to-head history, a detailed match preview, predicted lineups, and our score prediction.
FC Barcelona vs Olympiacos Head-to-Head
FC Barcelona and Olympiacos have locked horns just twice in competitive fixtures, both during the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage. The Blaugrana hold a slight edge, with one victory, one draw, and no losses against the Greek champions. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Date | Competition | Result | Key Scorers (Barcelona) | Key Scorers (Olympiacos) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2017 | UCL Group Stage | Olympiacos 0-0 Barcelona | None | None |
| Oct 18, 2017 | UCL Group Stage | Barcelona 3-1 Olympiacos | Messi, Suárez, own goal | Nikolaou |
Match Preview
Barcelona enter this fixture in 16th place in the Champions League league phase with three points from two games—a 2-1 away win over Newcastle United followed by a frustrating 2-1 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Domestically, Hansi Flick’s side sit two points behind Real Madrid in La Liga after a dramatic 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Girona on October 19, thanks to Ronald Araujo’s late heroics. However, the Catalan giants are grappling with a mounting injury crisis, missing stars like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Gavi, and goalkeepers Marc-André ter Stegen and Joan García. This could force rotations ahead of Saturday’s El Clásico, but young talents like Lamine Yamal—who has four goals in his last five UCL home games—offer hope.
Olympiacos, meanwhile, languish in 29th with just one point: a 0-0 home draw against Pafos FC after a 2-0 loss to Arsenal. They’re yet to score in the competition, managing only six shots on target across those outings. In the Greek Super League, José Luis Mendilibar’s men top the table after a 2-0 away win over AEL Larissa, powered by Ayoub El Kaabi’s brace. Mendilibar, who has lost 23 of 27 managerial clashes against Barcelona, will lean on a defensive setup, having conceded twice in each of their last 11 UCL away defeats.
Predicted Lineups: Injuries Shape Barcelona’s Approach
Barcelona’s injury list forces a youth-infused XI, with Wojciech Szczęsny in goal and Fermín López leading the attack. Flick may rest Pedri and Alejandro Balde for El Clásico.
FC Barcelona Predicted XI (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín; De Jong, Casadó, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Rashford
Substitutes: Iñaki Peña (GK), Balde, Christensen (doubt), Olabisi, Gündo, Bernal, Guerra.
Olympiacos welcome back Roman Yaremchuk from injury but miss Rodinei and Gabriel Strefezza, with several players ineligible for the UCL squad.
Olympiacos Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Mancha, Ortega; Hezze, Scipioni; Chiquinho, Podence, El Kaabi; Yaremchuk
Substitutes: Paschalakis (GK), Biancone, Quaresma, Alexandropoulos, Milić, Fortounis, Jovetić.
El Kaabi, with seven shots but no UCL goals yet, will be key for the visitors’ counters.
FC Barcelona vs Olympiacos Score Prediction
Despite Barcelona’s absences, their home dominance and Olympiacos’ goalless UCL start tilt the scales. The Greeks’ 11-game away losing streak in the competition and inability to breach Spanish defenses suggest a controlled win for the hosts. Yamal’s flair could unlock the defense, while Mendilibar’s deep block limits damage.
Predicted Score: FC Barcelona 2-0 Olympiacos
