Patryk Stachowiak
Olympiakos Piraeus host Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage Play-off First Leg, a tie with a direct route into the last 16. The stakes are simple: build an advantage now, survive the second leg. This matchup also brings an immediate storyline, with Olympiakos already beating Leverkusen 2-0 at home on January 20, 2026 in the league phase. Expect a fast, physical night in Piraeus as both sides fight for control before the return at the BayArena.
Match Preview
This first leg at Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus sets the tone for a two-game battle where the winner advances to the Champions League last 16. Olympiakos arrive with momentum in Europe, riding a three-match Champions League winning run that includes a 2-1 win away at Ajax. Their season has been uneven, but their home form has stood out, and the recent 2-0 home win over Leverkusen adds belief and a clear tactical reference point.
That January meeting showed Olympiakos’ ability to start quickly and finish clinically, scoring through Costinha (2′) and Taremi (45+1′). They also bring experience: their starting XI average age is 29.7 years, the oldest in the competition. Leverkusen, though, have proven they can deliver against elite opposition. In the league phase they beat Manchester City 2-0 away, drew Newcastle 2-2, and beat Benfica 1-0, underlining their big-game pedigree even if performances have been uneven.
Leverkusen finished 16th in the league phase and Olympiakos 18th, and Leverkusen hold the key structural advantage of a home second leg at the BayArena on February 24. Their squad depth looks strong and the injury list is described as light, with defensive options such as Quansah, Badé, and Tapsoba. They created 17 chances in the prior meeting but lost, so efficiency in both boxes becomes the headline factor for this rematch.
Kickoff Time
Start time (local in Greece): Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 20:00 (8:00 PM).
- UK & Ireland (GMT): 18:00
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain (CET): 19:00
- USA (ET): 13:00
Where to watch on TV & Live Stream
The match takes place at Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus. Fans can watch on major rights-holders depending on location, including TNT Sports (Great Britain), DAZN (Germany/Canada), and beIN Sports (many MENA territories). Check your country listing below for the official channel and streaming service.
How to watch online
Official streaming options depend on your region and usually require an active subscription. Viewers can use broadcaster apps and websites such as discovery+ (Great Britain/Ireland), DAZN (Germany/Canada/New Zealand), Paramount+ (USA), Stan Sport (Australia), and Disney+ Premium paired with ESPN channels in multiple Latin American markets. Some providers also include “TV everywhere” access through operator logins (for example, services like Sky/NOW, Viaplay, or operator apps where listed). Data charges may apply on mobile networks, and blackout rules can apply outside the licensed country.
| Country | Official Broadcaster/Stream |
| 🇦🇱 Albania | Tring Sport |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | beIN Sports |
| 🇦🇩 Andorra | Canal+ |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | SuperSport |
| 🇦🇮 Anguilla | Bluu |
| 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | Bluu |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | Disney+ |
| 🇦🇲 Armenia | Fast Sports |
| 🇦🇼 Aruba | Bluu |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Stan Sport |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Sky Sport |
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Q League |
| 🇧🇸 Bahamas | Bluu |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | beIN Sports |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Sony |
| 🇧🇧 Barbados | Bluu |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | Q League |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Proximus |
| 🇧🇿 Belize | ESPN 5 Norte |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | SuperSport |
| 🇧🇲 Bermuda | Bluu |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | Sony |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | Disney+ |
| 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Moja TV |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | SuperSport |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Space Brazil |
| 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | Bluu |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | beIN Sports |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | MAX Sport 2 |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | SuperSport |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | SuperSport |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | beIN Sports |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | SuperSport |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | DAZN |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde Islands | SuperSport |
| 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Bluu |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | SuperSport |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | beIN Sports |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | Disney+ |
| 🇨🇳 China | iQiyiZhiBo8 |
| 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei | ELTA Sports 2 |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | Disney+ |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | SuperSport |
| 🇨🇩 Congo DR | SuperSport |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Disney+ |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Arena Sport 3 Croatia |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Cytavision |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Nova Sport |
| 🇨🇮 Côte D’Ivoire | SuperSport |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Viaplay |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | beIN Sports |
| 🇩🇲 Dominica | Bluu |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Disney+ |
| 🇪🇨 Ecuador | Disney+ |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | beIN Sports |
| 🇸🇻 El Salvador | Disney+ |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | SuperSport |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | SuperSport |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | Go3 Extra Sports Estonia |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | SuperSport |
| 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | TV3 MAX |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | V Sport Football |
| 🇫🇷 France | Canal+ |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | SuperSport |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | SuperSport |
| 🇬🇪 Georgia | Q League |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Amazon Prime Video |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | SuperSport |
| 🇬🇧 Great Britain | TNT Sports |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Cosmote Sport 5 HD |
| 🇬🇩 Grenada | Bluu |
| 🇬🇹 Guatemala | Disney+ |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | SuperSport |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | SuperSport |
| 🇭🇳 Honduras | Disney+ |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | beIN Sports |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Sport 2 Hungary |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | SÝN Sport 2 |
| 🇮🇳 India | Sony |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | beIN Sports |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | beIN Sports |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | beIN Sports |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland Republic | TNT Sports |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 5Stars |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Sky Sport |
| 🇯🇲 Jamaica | Bluu |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | WOWOW |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | beIN Sports |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Q League |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | SuperSport |
| 🇰🇷 Korea Republic | SPOTV |
| 🇽🇰 Kosovo | Tring Sport |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | beIN Sports |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Q League |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | beIN Sports |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | Go3 Extra Sports Latvia |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | beIN Sports |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | SuperSport |
| 🇱🇷 Liberia | SuperSport |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | beIN Sports |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Blue Sport |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Go3 Extra Sports Lithuania |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Pickx+ Sports 3 |
| 🇲🇴 Macau | iQiyi |
| 🇲🇰 Macedonia | Arena 2 Premium |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | SuperSport |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | SuperSport |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | beIN Sports |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | Sony |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | SuperSport |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | GO TV |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | beIN Sports |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | SuperSport |
| 🇾🇹 Mayotte | SuperSport |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | FOX One |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | Q League |
| 🇲🇳 Mongolia | Premier Sports 3 |
| 🇲🇪 Montenegro | Arena 2 Premium |
| 🇲🇸 Montserrat | Bluu |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | beIN Sports |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | SuperSport |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | Canal+ |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | SuperSport |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Sony |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Ziggo Sport 3 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | DAZN |
| 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Disney+ |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | SuperSport |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | SuperSport |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | TV 2 Play |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | beIN Sports |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Sony |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | beIN Sports |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | Disney+ |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Disney+ |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | Disney+ |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | beIN Sports |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Canal+ |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | DAZN |
| 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | CBS Sports |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | beIN Sports |
| 🇷🇪 Reunion | SuperSport |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Digi Sport |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Okko Sport |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | SuperSport |
| 🇸🇭 Saint Helena | SuperSport |
| 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Bluu |
| 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Bluu |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | Sky Sport |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | beIN Sports |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | SuperSport |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | Arena 2 Premium |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | SuperSport |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | SuperSport |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | beIN Sports |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | Nova Sport |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | SportKlub |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | beIN Sports |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SuperSport |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | beIN Sports |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Movistar |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Sony |
| 🇻🇨 St. Vincent / Grenadines | Bluu |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | beIN Sports |
| 🇸🇷 Suriname | Bluu |
| 🇸🇿 Swaziland | SuperSport |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Viaplay |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Canal+ |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | beIN Sports |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | SuperSport |
| 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Q League |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | SuperSport |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | beIN Sports |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | SuperSport |
| 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | Bluu |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | beIN Sports |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | tabii |
| 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Q League |
| 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Bluu |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | SuperSport |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Megogo |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | beIN Sports |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | Disney+ |
| 🇺🇸 USA | CBS Sports |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Q League |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Disney+ |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | ON Sports News |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | beIN Sports |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | SuperSport |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | SuperSport |
How to watch anywhere with VPN
A VPN helps you access your usual streaming service when you travel by routing your connection through a server in your home country. This can help with geo-blocks that prevent access outside the licensed region. Step-by-step: 1) choose a VPN and install it, 2) connect to a server in the country where your subscription works (for example, the UK), 3) open the broadcaster app/website and sign in, then start the live stream. VPN apps work across iOS, Android, desktop, and many setups support Smart TV viewing via compatible devices.
How to watch at Sportsbooks
Some sportsbooks such as Bet365 or Unibet often provide live streams for selected matches if your account meets their requirements. Access rules vary by country and competition, and a subscription or funded account may be required. Typical steps: Register an account, deposit funds, then open the match page and look for the live stream/“Play” icon. Streams are usually available on mobile and desktop, and they can be a useful backup if you cannot access your regular broadcaster.
Olympiakos and Leverkusen meet again with a last-16 place on the line and a recent 2-0 result adding extra edge. Don’t miss the action at 20:00 local time. Check your local listings and streaming access before kickoff.