Greek class meets Polish grit: preview for Raków vs Olympiacos - 08.07.2026
Raków
Olympiacos
One of the international club friendlies will take place on Wednesday on neutral ground in the Netherlands, where Polish side Raków will face off against Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. The Polish club will test their form after two clean-sheet victories, while the Greek giants kick off their summer campaign following a strong finish to last season.
- See also: German power vs Ukrainian discipline: prediction for Ukraine U19 vs Germany U19 - 08.07.2026
Raków: two clean sheets, but the quality of opposition takes a leap
Raków approach this friendly in good spirits. In July, Dawid Kroczek's team defeated Puszcza and Piast by identical 2-0 scorelines, showing solid organization and a well-drilled defense.
However, these results shouldn't be overvalued: the opponents were of typical Polish league standard, while Olympiacos present an entirely different challenge. Looking at the bigger picture, Raków weren't all that consistent before the summer break: a 0-2 defeat to Jagiellonia and several draws in the league revealed that the Poles struggle against higher-caliber sides.
Olympiacos: strong finish and a clear class advantage
Olympiacos haven't played a match in the past 30 days, so this clash with Raków will be one of José Luis Mendilibar's first summer tests. Still, the Greek club ended last season on a high: they went unbeaten in their final five official matches, beating Panathinaikos twice, defeating PAOK, and drawing with both AEK and PAOK.
Crucially, Olympiacos showed defensive discipline - conceding just three goals in those five games against top domestic rivals. While pre-season friendlies often bring squad rotation, the depth and quality of the Greeks still make them favorites here.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Raków have won both their July friendlies 2-0.
- Olympiacos went unbeaten in all five official matches before the summer break.
- The Greek club conceded only three goals during that five-match stretch.
Squad quality should tell: prediction for Raków vs Olympiacos
Raków are already in pre-season rhythm and look organized, but their July wins came against teams nowhere near Olympiacos’ level. The Polish side can put up a fight - especially if they find space in transition - but may lack the consistency to withstand sustained pressure from a top opponent.
Olympiacos have greater squad depth, experience, and quality in high-stakes matches. Even if Mendilibar opts for heavy rotation, the Greek side have enough attacking weapons to break down Raków’s defense. The friendly format should encourage open football, so both teams to score and over 2.5 goals are logical options.
