Olympiakos vs Manchester City Champions League Build Up

Olympiakos vs Manchester City 

Champions League Build Up

By Stephen Kountourou

As club football returns and the weekend domestic fixtures have been played, we can finally return to the 2nd half of the Champions League group stage. Match Day 3 and 4 I find fascinating, as these are the rounds where two sides will play each other consecutively home and away. In some cases this midway point can decide who will finish where in a group.

This is certainly the case in Group C, when Olympiakos host table toppers Manchester City at the Karaiskakis Stadium early Wednesday evening. For the Erythrolefki it is a chance, as small as it may be, to keep their top two hopes alive by sneaking a result at home to a City side that will be looking to secure a place in the round of 16 with a win away from home. So this week with I will be taking a look at the mammoth task facing the Greek champions, as they attempt to build on their huge win over the weekend in the Super League and attempt, despite having an injury hit squad, to cause a huge upset over a City side, that are licking their wounds from a disappointing weekend in the Premier League.    

Last Time in the Champions League

As said before, both sides had previously faced off against each other on Match Day 3 at the Etihad Stadium. After an early goal from Spanish forward Ferran Torres, a Kostas Fortounisless Olympiakos struggled for much of the first half to get back into the game, with City showing their class, in their passing and wave after wave of attacking.

After half time Thrylos started to find a bit of momentum, with close chances from Mathieu Valbuena but, as is the story in Europe this season, Olympiakos struggled to convert. The Citizens eventually killed the game 9 minutes before time, when substitute Gabriel Jesus scored a fantastic effort to make it 2-0. To add insult to injury, Cancelo bagged himself a goal and a late 3rd for his side as Man City ran out 3-0 winners, despite predicting a loss it's always still a hard pill to swallow after having a chance to get back into the game. 

How Both Teams have fared over the Weekend

Since the return from the international break, both sides have had polar opposite performances in their respective domestic competitions on the weekend. Interesting fact, both sides played at the exact same time, that being 5:30PM BST.

 

Olympiakos

Thrylos had their clash with eternal rivals Panathinaikos, while also having to contend with no training session before the derby match, as well as numerous injuries and covid plaguing the squad. It was the Greek Champions, however, that took all three points at home in Piraeus in a game of two halves. After setting up in a 4-3-3 false 9 formation, with Kostas Fortounis starting up front, Olympiakos began the game on the front foot and looked the more dangerous of the two sides with some close chances being created early in the match. 

Eventually Thrylos found and opener and ended their first half goal drought, after a shot from Masouras was saved by PAO keeper Dioudis with the deflection falling into the path of Kostas Fortounis, who fired the ball into the top right hand corner to put his side 1-0 up. The second half was a completely different story and Olympiakos had to fend off the Prasini's constant attacks. They can count themselves lucky that their rivals were unable to finish their chances, and goalkeeper Jose Sa was switched on the whole match to preserve his sides lead when called upon, as Panathinaikos probably should have equalised. The Piraeus side held on however, and were able to take the bragging rights and points in a 1-0 victory to stay top of the table, before their clash with City on Wednesday.

 

Manchester City 

For City it was not a welcome return to the Premier League. It was Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola as ManCity travelled to North London to face Tottenham. Despite dominating in both shots and possession, the hosts ran out 2-0 winners thanks to an early goal from Son Heung Min and a second from substitute Giovani Lo Celso just passed the hour mark and thirty seconds after coming onto the pitch. 

The result keeps City's in 13th, after rather inconsistent run so far this season and this week's Champions League fixture against Olympiakos, being seen as a good way for the Citizens to respond more positively after their disappointing performance 

Injuries and Absentees 

Olympiakos 

Where do you even begin with the injury woes for Olympiakos. With the international break came more covid cases with both Hassan and El Arabi testing positive with Egypt and Morocco respectively and with Cuypers not selected in the Champions League squad there are essentially for strikers available. Ruben Vinagre is still a doubt for midweek, as is Jose Holebas who is now out injured as well, so not available left backs. 

To top it all off, both Bruma and chief creature Mathieu Valbuena are also out injured. So that totals out at six players out for Thrylos with a number of them not only being key players, but their back ups also being out, resulting in huge holes left in the team, until the players in question are available again. 

 

Manchester City

City two still have a number of absentees going into this week's European clash. Both full backs Zinchenko and Benjamin Mendy are doubtful with versatile defender Nathen Ake also reportedly out. Fernandinho is still recovering from an injury and striker Sergio Aguero, has had fitness concerns, on his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

Final Thoughts and Prediction 

To finish on some final thoughts, this is a game that Olympiakos will not find any easier then the first fixture in Manchester. The dwarf in class, along with missing personnel and with no fans at home to boost the side, the odds are stacked very firmly against Thrylos. That is not to say that they will not try to get something from this game. One thing you can say about this Olympiakos side is that they never give up a game even when a goal is down, and eventually that will be rewarded on the pitch. 

I could very much see coach Pedro Martins, starting a similar side as he did against Panathinaikos, with Dragger and Rafinha on either flank, a three man midfield of Camara, Bouchalakis and M'Villa along with Fortounis in a roaming false 9 role. Here's hoping he confirms Pep Guardiola's comments made about him a couple weeks ago and performs out of his skin. I will sadly, once again, be a pessimist, and predict a 0-2 loss for Olympiakos, with Manchester City qualifying for the round of 16 and Thrylos needing to win their final two games to have any hope of coming 2nd in Group C.    

Hellas Football 

Follow @stevekountourou p

By Stephen Kountourou

As club football returns and the weekend domestic fixtures have been played, we can finally return to the 2nd half of the Champions League group stage. Match Day 3 and 4 I find fascinating, as these are the rounds where two sides will play each other consecutively home and away. In some cases this midway point can decide who will finish where in a group.

This is certainly the case in Group C, when Olympiakos host table toppers Manchester City at the Karaiskakis Stadium early Wednesday evening. For the Erythrolefki it is a chance, as small as it may be, to keep their top two hopes alive by sneaking a result at home to a City side that will be looking to secure a place in the round of 16 with a win away from home. So this week with I will be taking a look at the mammoth task facing the Greek champions, as they attempt to build on their huge win over the weekend in the Super League and attempt, despite having an injury hit squad, to cause a huge upset over a City side, that are licking their wounds from a disappointing weekend in the Premier League.    

Last Time in the Champions League

As said before, both sides had previously faced off against each other on Match Day 3 at the Etihad Stadium. After an early goal from Spanish forward Ferran Torres, a Kostas Fortounisless Olympiakos struggled for much of the first half to get back into the game, with City showing their class, in their passing and wave after wave of attacking.

After half time Thrylos started to find a bit of momentum, with close chances from Mathieu Valbuena but, as is the story in Europe this season, Olympiakos struggled to convert. The Citizens eventually killed the game 9 minutes before time, when substitute Gabriel Jesus scored a fantastic effort to make it 2-0. To add insult to injury, Cancelo bagged himself a goal and a late 3rd for his side as Man City ran out 3-0 winners, despite predicting a loss it's always still a hard pill to swallow after having a chance to get back into the game. 

How Both Teams have fared over the Weekend

Since the return from the international break, both sides have had polar opposite performances in their respective domestic competitions on the weekend. Interesting fact, both sides played at the exact same time, that being 5:30PM BST.

 

Olympiakos

Thrylos had their clash with eternal rivals Panathinaikos, while also having to contend with no training session before the derby match, as well as numerous injuries and covid plaguing the squad. It was the Greek Champions, however, that took all three points at home in Piraeus in a game of two halves. After setting up in a 4-3-3 false 9 formation, with Kostas Fortounis starting up front, Olympiakos began the game on the front foot and looked the more dangerous of the two sides with some close chances being created early in the match. 

Eventually Thrylos found and opener and ended their first half goal drought, after a shot from Masouras was saved by PAO keeper Dioudis with the deflection falling into the path of Kostas Fortounis, who fired the ball into the top right hand corner to put his side 1-0 up. The second half was a completely different story and Olympiakos had to fend off the Prasini's constant attacks. They can count themselves lucky that their rivals were unable to finish their chances, and goalkeeper Jose Sa was switched on the whole match to preserve his sides lead when called upon, as Panathinaikos probably should have equalised. The Piraeus side held on however, and were able to take the bragging rights and points in a 1-0 victory to stay top of the table, before their clash with City on Wednesday.

 

Manchester City 

For City it was not a welcome return to the Premier League. It was Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola as ManCity travelled to North London to face Tottenham. Despite dominating in both shots and possession, the hosts ran out 2-0 winners thanks to an early goal from Son Heung Min and a second from substitute Giovani Lo Celso just passed the hour mark and thirty seconds after coming onto the pitch. 

The result keeps City's in 13th, after rather inconsistent run so far this season and this week's Champions League fixture against Olympiakos, being seen as a good way for the Citizens to respond more positively after their disappointing performance 

Injuries and Absentees 

Olympiakos 

Where do you even begin with the injury woes for Olympiakos. With the international break came more covid cases with both Hassan and El Arabi testing positive with Egypt and Morocco respectively and with Cuypers not selected in the Champions League squad there are essentially for strikers available. Ruben Vinagre is still a doubt for midweek, as is Jose Holebas who is now out injured as well, so not available left backs. 

To top it all off, both Bruma and chief creature Mathieu Valbuena are also out injured. So that totals out at six players out for Thrylos with a number of them not only being key players, but their back ups also being out, resulting in huge holes left in the team, until the players in question are available again. 

 

Manchester City

City two still have a number of absentees going into this week's European clash. Both full backs Zinchenko and Benjamin Mendy are doubtful with versatile defender Nathen Ake also reportedly out. Fernandinho is still recovering from an injury and striker Sergio Aguero, has had fitness concerns, on his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

Final Thoughts and Prediction 

To finish on some final thoughts, this is a game that Olympiakos will not find any easier then the first fixture in Manchester. The dwarf in class, along with missing personnel and with no fans at home to boost the side, the odds are stacked very firmly against Thrylos. That is not to say that they will not try to get something from this game. One thing you can say about this Olympiakos side is that they never give up a game even when a goal is down, and eventually that will be rewarded on the pitch. 

I could very much see coach Pedro Martins, starting a similar side as he did against Panathinaikos, with Dragger and Rafinha on either flank, a three man midfield of Camara, Bouchalakis and M'Villa along with Fortounis in a roaming false 9 role. Here's hoping he confirms Pep Guardiola's comments made about him a couple weeks ago and performs out of his skin. I will sadly, once again, be a pessimist, and predict a 0-2 loss for Olympiakos, with Manchester City qualifying for the round of 16 and Thrylos needing to win their final two games to have any hope of coming 2nd in Group C.    

Hellas Football 

Follow @stevekountourou