Loading…
Champions League
NEC Nijmegen head into their Champions League qualifier against Olympiacos with just two wins from seven pre-season friendlies, key players on limited minutes, and a transfer saga swirling around star forward Kodai Sano.
Let's not sugarcoat it: NEC Nijmegen have won just two of their seven pre-season friendlies, and now they're about to walk into a Champions League qualifier against Olympiacos. That's the kind of narrative that either makes for a fairytale or a cautionary tale. There is no middle ground.
Coach Dick Schreuder fronted the press ahead of what he himself called a "special day" for the club, and while his words radiated confidence, the fitness picture tells a more complicated story. Philippe Sandler is expected to last only around 60 minutes against the Greek giants, while Kodai Sano will face a late fitness test before kick-off, with hopes that he too can contribute for about an hour. That's two key players already on a clock before a ball has even been kicked in anger.
Two wins from seven friendlies is not exactly the kind of form that inspires confidence heading into European competition. But Schreuder was quick to draw a line between preparation games and the real thing, insisting that the true test comes in competitive fixtures. It's a fair point, and one that coaches across European football have made before. The question is whether NEC's squad has the depth and mentality to flip the switch when it matters most against an Olympiacos side hardened by years of continental experience.
Schreuder made clear he expects his players to show exactly what they are capable of on this stage. That's the right message, but words only carry you so far. NEC will need performances to match the rhetoric if they want to avoid becoming another qualifier casualty.
One of the more intriguing subplots heading into this match is the future of Kodai Sano. Despite reported interest from Nottingham Forest, Ajax, and PSV, the Japanese forward remains at NEC for now. Schreuder expressed confidence that Sano will still be part of the squad when the transfer window closes, which is a significant statement given the calibre of clubs circling.
For NEC, keeping Sano is huge. A player attracting attention from a Premier League club and two of the Eredivisie's heavyweights is clearly operating at a level above the average Nijmegen squad member. His availability (even a reduced one) against Olympiacos could prove decisive. Whether he ultimately stays beyond the summer is another matter entirely, but for now, Schreuder has his man.
If Schreuder's message was about belief, captain Tjaronn Chery's was about belonging. The NEC skipper spoke passionately about his excitement for the Champions League fixture, stating plainly that the team deserves to be in this position after a strong 2025-26 season. No stress. No fear. Just conviction.
That kind of mentality from the captain can be contagious. Olympiacos will arrive with pedigree and expectation, but if NEC can channel the energy Chery is projecting, they might just make this a proper contest. Champions League qualifiers have a habit of producing upsets, and NEC will fancy themselves as the kind of underdog nobody wants to face on a special European night.
For NEC Nijmegen, this is more than just a football match. It's a chance to announce themselves on the biggest stage in club football and prove that their strong domestic campaign was no fluke. For Olympiacos, it's a potential banana skin: an underestimated opponent with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The fitness of Sandler and Sano, the form (or lack thereof) in pre-season, and the sheer magnitude of the occasion all add layers of intrigue to this clash.
Fans looking to get closer to the action for NEC vs Olympiacos and other Champions League qualifiers can explore exciting match betting opportunities on Epicbet.
Robert
