The International Club Friendly between Heerenveen and Olympiacos at the Abe Lenstra Stadion promises to be a fascinating contest between a Dutch side striving for consistency and a Greek powerhouse in formidable form. As these teams meet during the July phase of the summer friendlies, all eyes will be on how Heerenveen’s tactical rebuild under Robin Veldman stacks up against an Olympiacos squad thriving under José Luis Mendilibar. While friendlies can be unpredictable by nature, both teams will want to fine-tune strategies and sharpen their squads ahead of the new campaigns, making every minute on the pitch matter.
For Heerenveen, midfielder Thom Haye will shoulder the creative burden in the absence of significant transfer arrivals—his ability to break lines with passes and support the attack will be pivotal. For Olympiacos, Moroccan midfielder Youssef El-Arabi, despite being deployed deeper lately, remains a constant threat in and around the penalty area, capable of deciding games from half-chances. Both squads are likely to field strong XIs, giving fans a compelling look at their competitive readiness.
The standout stat heading into this fixture: Olympiacos have won 100 percent of their past three games and are riding an impressive 22 wins in 28 matches this year, underlining their ability to adapt and dominate across contexts.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2025 (July phase) |
| 🏟 Venue: | Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen |
| 🗓️ Date: | 02.08.2025 |
| ⏰ Time: | 17:00 CEST |
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Heerenveen vs Olympiacos prediction
The best value bet for this matchup is Olympiacos to win. With a 100 percent win rate in their last three outings and a strong 79 percent win rate across 28 matches this year, Olympiacos have found a relentless attacking rhythm, as recent results against AZ Alkmaar (2-0), Norwich (3-0), and NAC Breda (3-2) illustrate. In contrast, Heerenveen’s summer has been marked by inconsistency—a solitary win in four (1-0 over Charleroi), a draw with QPR and Telstar, and a home defeat to Almere City.
Stylistically, Heerenveen rely on patient build-up but have struggled in transition, both attacking and defensive. Their possession numbers are decent, but the directness in the final third has often been missing, putting added pressure on their back line. Defensively, recurring lapses—especially late in games—have cost them valuable results in recent matches.
Olympiacos, in contrast, play an assertive, high-possession style under Mendilibar, pressing aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch. Their discipline is evident in their low card count and ability to control games, while their defensive line has remained compact and organized even under pressure. With their technical superiority and squad cohesion, Olympiacos are well-positioned to capitalize on any Heerenveen mistakes and control the midfield.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Olympiacos -0.5 Asian Handicap |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
Heerenveen’s recent games:
Heerenveen’s last four matches point to a team still looking for rhythm and stability (1W-2D-1L). Their most recent outing—a 2-2 draw against an unpredictable QPR—showed flashes of offensive promise but also highlighted defensive vulnerabilities, especially on set pieces and swift counters. Earlier, a narrow 1-0 victory over Charleroi suggested they’re capable of digging deep, but errors in a 2-3 loss to Almere City and a 1-1 draw with Telstar showcased just how slim the margins are for this side. Robin Veldman’s efforts at fostering a more robust possession game are evident, yet with only six goals scored and six conceded across these four, attacking sharpness and defensive focus remain key issues.
Olympiacos’ recent games:
Olympiacos are in scintillating form, boasting wins over AZ Alkmaar (2-0), Norwich (3-0), and NAC Breda (3-2) after a strong domestic finish. Their recent clean sheet victories highlight a squad that’s cohesive at the back—compact, vigilant, and able to press mistakes out of their opponents. Against Norwich, Olympiacos were especially impressive, scoring three without reply and dictating the midfield tempo; versus AZ, their high press and slick transitions paid dividends. With consistent goal scoring and defensive discipline, Olympiacos have outclassed opponents with both technical skill and tactical intelligence under José Luis Mendilibar.
🚨Read our full Heerenveen vs Olympiacos stats for more analysis.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Olympiacos the favourite
- Moneyline Heerenveen 2.90 | Olympiacos 1.96
- Draw 3.90 to 4.00
- Over/Under Over 2.5 1.75 | Under 2.5 2.00
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes 1.57 | No 2.10
The bookmakers clearly rate Olympiacos as favourites, reflected by the sub-2.00 odds for an away win. That stands in contrast to Heerenveen’s patchier summer form. Both teams to score is also short, suggesting expectations of an open, attacking contest—a reflection of both sides’ recent offensive productivity. The value is in backing Olympiacos, whose superior win rate and tactical cohesion make them the logical pick here, but the over 2.5 goals line also holds value given the friendly nature of the fixture and both teams’ attacking ambitions.
You can find all our predictions for today’s games on our football betting tips page.
Possible Starting Lineups

Heerenveen possible starting eleven
- GK: Andries Noppert
- DF: Sven van Beek, Pawel Bochniewicz, Milan van Ewijk, Mats Köhlert
- MF: Thom Haye, Anas Tahiri, Osame Sahraoui
- FW: Sydney van Hooijdonk, Che Nunnely, Simon Olsson
Heerenveen are likely to start in a 4-3-3 formation that maximizes their width and supports an expansive game. The back line will hinge on leadership from van Beek, while Haye pulls the creative strings. Van Hooijdonk, their primary goal threat, will be critical in breaking down a disciplined Olympiacos defense. Watch for Sahraoui to add dynamism from midfield, combining for late runs into the box.
Olympiacos possible starting eleven
- GK: Alexandros Paschalakis
- DF: Panagiotis Retsos, Oleg Reabciuk, Rodinei, Andreas Ndoj
- MF: Santiago Hezze, Vicente Iborra, Youssef El-Arabi
- FW: Kostas Fortounis, Daniel Podence, Ayoub El Kaabi
Olympiacos should line up in a balanced 4-2-3-1, favoring control over chaos and looking to dominate the midfield. Paschalakis’ shot-stopping has been vital in recent clean sheets, while Podence’s dribbling adds incision on the flank. El-Arabi’s flexibility—operating between the lines and as an advanced midfielder—makes him the one to watch, alongside Ayoub El Kaabi’s pace and off-ball movement.
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Olympiacos. Source: Official Instagram. Edited photo
The Verdict
Olympiacos are deservedly the favourites, given their relentless form, tactical maturity, and attacking firepower. While Heerenveen will be competitive and create chances of their own—especially at home—the gulf in current form and squad cohesion is hard to ignore. My principal pick is an Olympiacos win (ML or -0.5 Asian Handicap), with a high-scoring contest likely as both sides prefer to attack and experiment tactically. Expect plenty of goals and no shortage of technical quality, but Olympiacos’ edge in both individual brilliance and collective structure should see them through.

