Rakow vs Olympiacos Prediction: 8 July 2026 International Club Friendly

Rakow Czestochowa host Olympiacos at Brann Stadion in Bergen on July 8, a pre-season friendly that pits a Polish top-flight side against one of the most decorated clubs in Greek football history. The gap in world club ranking between these two sides is significant, with Olympiacos sitting far above Rakow in global standings, making this an interesting test for Dawid Kroczek’s squad heading into the new season. Rakow arrive in fine form, having won both of their July friendlies without conceding, while Olympiacos have no recorded matches in the last 30 days, suggesting this will be their first competitive outing of the summer under José Luis Mendilibar.

One player to track for Rakow is whoever lines up at the tip of their attack, given the club has scored seven goals across two pre-season games with a clean sheet in each. For Olympiacos, the creative engine in midfield will be the key figure, particularly given Mendilibar’s typically energetic, high-press system that demands intelligent ball movement through the center of the pitch.

Hot stat: Olympiacos went unbeaten across their last five competitive matches before the summer break, recording wins over Panathinaikos (twice) and PAOK, and drawing with both AEK Athens and PAOK. That run shows a side capable of grinding out results against strong domestic opposition.

Rakow vs Olympiacos Prediction

Olympiacos carry a clear quality edge here. Their recent competitive record against the best sides in the Greek Super League, combined with Mendilibar’s tactical discipline, points to a side that will control tempo and create chances consistently. Rakow’s pre-season wins came against Puszcza and Piast Gliwice, both Polish opponents with modest ratings, so the step up in quality is real.

We predict Olympiacos to win this match. The Greek side’s superior squad depth and their coach’s preference for structured, aggressive pressing should expose a Rakow side that is still building momentum ahead of the Polish season. Rakow’s 100% win rate in July is a positive sign, but neither of those victories tested them at this level.

Goals are likely. Both teams have shown attacking intent in their recent fixtures, and pre-season friendlies at this stage of July often feature high-scoring affairs as coaches rotate squads and test attacking combinations. Rakow conceded twice in their most recent Polish league match against Jagiellonia before the break, suggesting their defensive line is not airtight.

• We predict Olympiacos to win this friendly.
• Both teams are likely to find the net at least once.
• Expect a fairly open game with over 2.5 goals a realistic outcome.
• Corners should be plentiful given both teams’ tendency to play wide and press high.

Team Analysis

Rakow enter this friendly off back-to-back wins in July, beating Puszcza 2-0 and Piast Gliwice 2-0. Both results were clean sheets, which reflects some defensive organization from Kroczek’s setup. Looking further back, the picture is more mixed. Rakow lost to Jagiellonia 2-0 in May and drew three of their last five league matches before the summer, showing a side that can be inconsistent when facing teams with real quality. Their form string of ldwdddwwlddddww over recent months confirms they are prone to stalling periods.

Olympiacos closed their competitive season in strong fashion. Their last five recorded matches included a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos, a 1-0 win over Panathinaikos, a 1-1 draw with AEK Athens, and two matches against PAOK, winning one 1-0 and drawing the other 1-1. To be honest, this is a squad that was battle-tested against top Greek opposition right up until the end of the season. Mendilibar’s side showed defensive resilience, conceding just three goals across those five games, while also demonstrating the ability to win tight matches. Their form string of ldlwdwdwdlwlddd across a longer window shows some inconsistency, but the most recent competitive run was clearly on an upward curve.

🚨 Check out our dedicated Rakow vs Olympiacos stats page for more info.

Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Olympiacos the Favourite

• Moneyline Rakow N/A | Olympiacos N/A
• Draw N/A
• Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
• BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A

No bookmaker odds are currently available for this fixture. Based purely on form and squad quality, Olympiacos should be clear favorites. Their world club ranking sits significantly higher than Rakow’s, and their recent competitive record against strong Greek opposition gives them a meaningful edge. Any market that opens on this match should reflect Olympiacos as the side most likely to win, with a reasonable case for goals at both ends given the friendly context and the attacking ambitions both coaches typically display.

Possible Starting Lineups

Rakow Possible Starting Eleven

Rakow are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape under Kroczek, with a compact defensive block and quick transitions. Ivi Lopez has been one of the more technically capable players in the squad over recent seasons, capable of unlocking defenses in tight spaces. Fabian Piasecki offers a direct option up front. Given the lack of detailed lineup data from the latest matches, this lineup is based on the core group that featured most regularly during the 2025-26 campaign. Expect rotation, as is standard in July pre-season fixtures.

Olympiacos Possible Starting Eleven

Mendilibar typically deploys Olympiacos in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 structure, pressing high and demanding width from the fullbacks. Konstantinos Tzolakis has been a reliable presence in goal. Ayoub El Kaabi is the focal point in attack and a player worth watching closely, given his ability to finish in tight areas. Kostas Fortounis brings experience and technical quality from a deeper role. Again, rotation is expected across the squad, and Mendilibar may use this fixture to assess fringe players alongside his first-team regulars.

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TipsGG Match Prediction

Olympiacos are the better side on paper and the stronger bet to take three points from this Bergen friendly. Their end-of-season form against PAOK and Panathinaikos demonstrated a team that can defend well and create enough to win matches by a single goal or more. Rakow’s recent wins in pre-season are encouraging, but those came against significantly weaker opposition.

We predict Olympiacos to win, with goals at both ends making this an entertaining affair. Rakow have shown enough attacking intent in July to threaten, but their defensive record over the full season, including that 2-0 defeat to Jagiellonia, suggests Olympiacos will find space to score. Perhaps the most interesting angle is whether Olympiacos can keep their defensive shape intact through rotations, but on balance, their quality across the squad is simply too high for Rakow to contain for 90 minutes.

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