Olympiacos and NEC Nijmegen played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round in Piraeus. Qualification for the play-off round will now be decided in the rematch next week at NEC's ground in the Netherlands.
Olympiacos controlled possession early and created the game's first real chance in the 13th minute, when Christos Mouzakitis took a corner and Rafael Carmo headed it toward goal, only for goalkeeper Wilhelm Cretas to save.
NEC grew into the match and threatened in the 20th minute through a Bischof shot that deflected off Saliakas for a corner. In the 32nd minute, Lebreton hit the post with a header, but the goal was ruled out for offside earlier in the move.
Chances at both ends before the break
Olympiacos, coached by Jose Luis Mendilibar, raised their tempo after the 35th minute. Rodinei forced a save from the NEC goalkeeper with a long-range shot in the 36th minute, and the keeper denied El Kaabi in the 38th. NEC finished the half strongly, with Monteiro's 45th-minute shot well saved by Popovic and Lebreton heading wide from a good position in first-half stoppage time.
Mendilibar makes wholesale changes
Mendilibar brought on Zelson Martins for Roca at halftime. NEC continued to press, with Monteiro forcing another strong save from Popovic in the 53rd minute. Mendilibar responded in the 57th minute with three substitutions, replacing Tsikinio, Saliakas and Carmo with Zota Silva, Mafeo and Pirola. In the 64th minute, Retsos was forced off injured and replaced by Smailovic, who made his official debut. The score stayed level until the end.
