The 2017/18 season is just around the corner for most European leagues and with the new season comes the return of the UEFA Champions League and some of the teams are still yet to be confirmed. One of the ties of the third qualifying round is between Partizan and Olympiacos and in the first leg, Olympiacos make the trip from Greece to Serbia before the roles reverse next week. Partizan won the Serbian Superliga to qualify whilst Olympiacos also won their domestic league.

STATS

• The new Serbian Superliga season started on Saturday and Partizan got off to a flying start with a resounding with a 6-1 win over Mačva which has already put them top of the table as they look to retain their title. They have already played in the Champions League this season as they beat Budućnost 2-0 on aggregate after a 2-0 win in the first leg gave them the advantage.
• Olympiacos’ last game was back at the end of April where they beat Panetolikos to confirm their place as the Greek Superleague champions. In their last five league games, they won four and drew one which meant they ended the season as champions but they crashed out of the Greek Cup in the semi-final against AEK. They will need to dust off the cobwebs for this one after nearly three months without a game.
• Partizan had the two joint top goal scorers in the Serbian Superliga last season. Uros Durdevic and Leonardo both managed 24 goals as they steered their side to the title.
• Former West Brom striker, Brown Ideye was great for Olympiacos and he was their top goal scorer in the league with 13 goals, a tally only beaten by two players.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two sides have never met in European competition and with two leagues who don’t have too many continental representatives, it is hard to find comparisons. They are both big clubs in their respective countries and have experience in Europe but it is Olympiacos who have gone the furthest as they reached the quarter-finals back in 1999.

PARTIZAN NEWS

It is vital for Partizan, as the home side, to gain an advantage in the first leg to give them the best chance of progression to the group stage. Without any notable absences, they have the best possible chance of going through but it will a very tough task.

Latest matches: Partizan Belgrade

22.07.2017	Supe	Partizan Belgrade	Macva Sabac	6:1	W
18.07.2017	UEFA	FK Buducnost	Partizan Belgrade	0:0	D
11.07.2017	UEFA	Partizan Belgrade	FK Buducnost	2:0	W
04.07.2017	Club	Partizan Belgrade	FC Ural Yekaterinburg	1:0	W
01.07.2017	Club	Partizan Belgrade	CSKA Moscow	0:3	L

OLYMPIACOS NEWS

With the second leg on their own turf, Olympiacos need to make sure they avoid defeat as a loss in the first leg could kill them psychologically. They also have no players absent for the game as they have had an extended pre-season.

Latest matches: Olympiacos FC

15.07.2017	Club	Sporting Lokeren	Olympiacos FC	0:0	D
08.07.2017	Club	Yellow-Red KV Mechelen	Olympiacos FC	0:6	W
02.07.2017	Club	Panionios Athens	Olympiacos FC	2:1	L
26.06.2017	Club	Olympiacos FC	Ludogorets Razgrad	1:1	D
23.06.2017	Club	Olympiacos FC	WSG Wattens	2:0	W

SUMMARY

Due to their stronger team and having more experience of big games, Olympiacos are the favourites to win the tie as a whole but with them playing away in the first leg, they won’t be expected to win on Wednesday night. A draw is probably the most likely outcome in the first leg but it would be a surprise for Olympiacos not to make their way into the group stage. Both teams will keep their cards close to their chest in the first leg as they hope to give nothing away to their opponents.