NEC Nijmegen vs Olympiakos Piraeus — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.5: Two games between these clubs have produced two goals between them, and that is the best guide we have. The first leg in Piraeus finished 0-0, and nothing about the return suggests a different kind of night. Olympiakos are the main reason. They let in less than a goal a game and they score less than a goal a game. Only 3 of their last 14 games had 3 or more goals in them. They are happy to keep the ball, slow the game down and win it late. NEC are in no state to blow that open. They are without goalkeeper Freek Entius and Kodai Sano, further suspensions have been reported, and they come in on three days' rest to seven for the visitors. A team in that shape usually plays carefully and hopes to nick one. We see a 0-1, and a single goal keeps this well on the right side. The honest warning is that NEC's own games are busy. Their games have just over 3 goals in them on average, and they let in more than a goal a game. A sloppy start would change everything. If NEC fall behind they will throw bodies forward late, and goals at both ends are how these ties break open. We still want the low scoring game.