Kick-off is at 18.45 at the Pankritio Stadium, and for both clubs this is only the second direct duel. Bayer Leverkusen won the first one 1:0 in the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup group stage.
Leverkusen's perfect start
The visitors have not conceded in the competition yet, and their opening two Europa League matches have produced six goals without reply. That is a tidy way to build a case for favouritism, especially when combined with the five-match winning run.
Leverkusen sit second in the Europa League standings, but the table position is less interesting than the way they have reached it. They have lost only one of their last 16 Europa League matches, with 11 wins and four draws, which is a strong backdrop even before you get to Crete.
OFI's home edge
OFI's home numbers are the reason this still feels like a proper test. They have won nine of their previous 11 home games in European main competitions, with one draw and one defeat, and they have already won both of their Europa League home matches this season.
That sort of record does not make Leverkusen underdogs, but it does stop this from looking like a routine away trip. The visitors have the cleaner European start and the better recent run, yet OFI have made Pankritio a difficult place to visit in Europe, and that is enough to keep the match in the balance until it starts.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
