UEFA Champions League Preview: Anderlecht v Olympiacos

Both Anderlecht and Olympiacos will be hoping to get off the mark when the pair meet in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

The two sides tasted defeat in their opening Group C matches, Anderlecht losing 2-0 to Benfica while Olympiacos were thumped 4-1 at home by Paris Saint-Germain.

Wednesday represents the first meeting between the two sides since 1974, when Anderlecht squeezed through 5-4 on aggregate in the second round of the European Cup after winning the first leg 5-1 in Belgium.

The reigning Belgian Pro League champions are unbeaten in their last seven games against Greek opposition, and their record at home to sides from the Mediterranean country reads four wins and two defeats from six matches.

Olympiacos’ last game against a club from Belgium came in the group stage of the Champions League four years ago, when they defeated Standard Liege 2-1 in Greece before going down 2-0 in the return fixture.

Anderlecht finished bottom of their group last season, while Olympiacos finished third in theirs and entered the UEFA Europa League, where they were knocked out immediately by Levante of La Liga.

John van den Brom’s men currently lie fourth in the Belgian top flight, nine points adrift of leaders Liege after winning six and losing three of their opening nine fixtures. They will go into Wednesday’s game on the back of Sunday’s 2-0 home success over Lierse, Guillaume Gillet and Dennis Praet the goalscorers.

Ronald Vargas is a long-term injury absentee for Van Den Brom after undergoing knee surgery in July.

Olympiacos have enjoyed a fine start to their domestic season though, holding a three-point lead over PAOK at the top of the Greek Super League with five wins and a draw from their opening six matches, including Saturday’s 2-0 success at Panionios.

David Fuster and Paulo Machado are unlikely to feature with hamstring and knee problems, while Michel’s side will be looking to avoid falling to their 100th defeat in European competition at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.