Get OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions, probable lineups, bet builder tips and odds for this Europa League clash, plus the best betting angle.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Match Summary
Competition | Europa League |
|---|---|
Match Date | Thursday 22 October 2026 |
Match Time | 17:45 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Heraklion, Pankritio Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | TNT Sport Extra (UK) |
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen brings Europa League football to the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, and the betting odds leave little doubt, with the visitors 2/9 with 10Bet.
Christos Kontis' side opened their European campaign by beating Hoffenheim 2-0, but a defeat at Rennes has knocked the shine off their start.
Leverkusen have a perfect record and a clean sheet in every outing so far in this competition, and this is the club's first competitive fixture on Crete.
The visitors can tighten their grip near the top of the table, but OFI have won nine of their 11 home matches in major continental competition, so they will not roll over.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Form
OFI's bright start has fizzled out. Taxiarchis Fountas put them ahead at Rennes, only for a 2-1 defeat to follow, and they are now without a win in four across all competitions. Fountas is injured, which stings because his club goals this season have all come in Europe, leaving Kenan Kodro to carry the attacking load.
Leverkusen are flying. A 4-0 win away at Lech Poznań stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven, and Patrik Schick helped himself to a brace. He remains the focal point, while Edmond Tapsoba and Aleix García keep the ball moving from the back and the engine room. Nobody has found a way past them in Europe yet.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
OFI Crete: N. Christogeorgos (Injured/out), T. Fountas (Injured/out), A. L. Iseka (Injured/out), C. Shielis (Injured/out), N. Marinakis (Injured/out)
Bayer Leverkusen: K. Eichhorn (Injured/out), M. Culbreath (Injured/out), G. Doué (Injured/out), E. B. Seghir (Injured/out), M. Terrier (Injured/out), C. Kofane (Injured/out)
OFI Crete
The probable OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen lineups hand Klidman Lilo the gloves with Nikos Christogeorgos out, and he faces a demanding evening against this attack. Lorenzo Dickmann and Nikolaos Athanasiou provide the width as wing-backs, while Giannis Theodosoulakis and Thiago Nuss flank Kenan Kodro in a 3-4-3.
Bayer Leverkusen
Carles Martínez is without six players, Martin Terrier and Christian Kofane among them, but still has serious depth. Mark Flekken sits behind a back four marshalled by Tapsoba, with Moussa Diaby, Ibrahim Maza and Afonso Moreira lining up behind Schick in a probable 4-2-3-1.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Predicted Lineup
OFI Crete
Formation: 3-4-3 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: K. Lilo; A. Poungouras, D. Nikolaou, K. Krizmanic; L. Dickmann, T. Androutsos, A. Bouchalakis, N. Athanasiou; G. Theodosoulakis, K. Kodro, T. Nuss
Bayer Leverkusen
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: M. Flekken; J. Quansah, F. Medina, E. Tapsoba, M. Gutiérrez; A. García, E. Fernández; M. Diaby, I. Maza, A. Moreira; P. Schick
Check out all the latest oddschecker Free Bets & Sign-Up Offers for OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: This one looks a comfortable 1-3 away win. OFI's home pedigree and a lively front three should be good for a goal, but Leverkusen have far more quality in the final third and an injury-hit home side will struggle to live with them. Both teams to score at 4/5 with Bet365 fits that read.
Best Bets
Ibrahim Maza over 3.5 shots in the Player Shots market. He sits in the hole behind Schick for a Leverkusen side expected to dominate possession. Leverkusen have already racked up 39 shots in this competition, and Maza is a regular starter in a side that should have the ball for long spells. With OFI likely to sit deep, he will get plenty of looks from the edge of the box.
Moussa Diaby to score at any time in the Anytime Goalscorer market. He is part of a Leverkusen attack that has scored six without reply in two league-phase games. Leverkusen are projected to put close to three past OFI, so there should be goals to go round beyond Schick. Diaby starts on the right and offers a far more interesting price than the odds-on centre-forward.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Bet Builder
This bet builder combines a Leverkusen win, Patrik Schick to score, both teams to score and a card for Thiago Nuss.
Leverkusen to win: they are unbeaten in seven consecutive away games in the Europa League, while OFI arrive short of bodies and confidence.
Patrik Schick to score: he has 10 goals in 24 Europa League appearances and is the focal point of an attack that peppers the opposition goal.
Both teams to score: OFI have an injury-hit squad but a lively front three at home, and our 1-3 call has them scoring again in front of their own fans.
Thiago Nuss to be shown a card: OFI will spend long spells without the ball, and the forward will be asked to track back against a quick Leverkusen right side.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 15/2 and is as short as 22/5 elsewhere.
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Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Talking Points
The big question is whether OFI's home fortress can hold. Another win would make them the first side since Middlesbrough to reach double figures for European home wins within their first 12 such fixtures. Standing in their way is a Leverkusen side, under new head coach Carles Martínez, that has lost just once in their last 16 Europa League matches. OFI are stubborn at home and get fouled plenty when they do break forward, but Leverkusen's control at both ends is why their attackers dominate the best bets above.
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Predictions FAQs
When is the OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen Europa League game?
The match kicks off at 17:45 UK time on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Where is OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen being played?
The match is being played at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete.
Where can I watch OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen?
The match is listed on TNT Sport Extra in the UK.
What competition is OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen in?
OFI Crete vs Bayer Leverkusen is a Europa League fixture.
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