Olympiakos vs Freiburg: 
UEFA Europa League Group Stages Preview

By Stephen Kountourou 

Europa League Match Day One: 21/09/23

Kick-off: 22:00 Greek Time

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium 

Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 5 HD

The Revenge Match

Just over a year ago, Olympiakos were embarrassed at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in the Europa League group stages. The scoreline was 0-3. The opponent, Freiburg. Within the first half an hour Thrylos found themselves 0-2 down at the half-hour mark. Austrian forward Michael Gregoritsch scored his second on the night to make it 0-3 and cement a miserable night for Olympiakos that would continue throughout the rest of the European campaign.

But that was a vastly different Piraeus side, to the team that was assembled this summer and currently flying under Diego Martinez. Despite Freiburg being a tough opponent, Olympiakos is far more prepared for the challenges in Europe this season. Thrylos supporters see this fixture as a chance to get revenge for the heavy defeat last season at home and start the group stages right with a statement win.

Olympiakos

Thrylos, having started the season much earlier than their German opponents due to the qualifiers, have only improved with every game. A successful Europa League qualifier saw Olympiakos squeeze past Belgian side Genk in the third round and demolish Čukarički over two legs in the playoffs. 

The Super League campaign also began well, with a hard-fought 2-0 win over newly promoted Panserraikos followed up with crushing 4-0 victories dished out to both Atromitos and Lamia.

The biggest test of the domestic season came when Diego Martinez’s men travelled to the Agia Sofia Stadium to face champions AEK in the derby. Enosis started the first 20 minutes the better of the two sides and took a deserved lead through Ezequiel Ponce. Conceding woke up Olympiakos who responded well to going behind. 

In the latter stages of the first half, a move started by Kostas Fortounis resulted in a well-chipped ball from Daniel Podence finding the flying header of Ayoub El Kaabi to equalise. The second half saw both sides cancel each other out and unable to find a winner. The match finished 1-1, which felt like a fair reflection of the game overall.

Freiburg

After finishing in fifth place to earn an automatic place in the UEFA Europa League, Freiburg has had a mixed start to the season. They started the Bundesliga well with a 1-2 win on the road to Hoffenheim before defeating Werder Bremen 1-0 in their first home game of the season. However, that was followed up by being thrashed 5-0 by Stuttgart. 

Christian Streich’s men most recently hosted title hopefuls Borussia Dortmund on Saturday the 16th of September. After going a goal down in the first eleven minutes, Freiburg came back to lead at halftime, thanks to goals from Lucas Höler and Nicolas Höfler in added time. 

In the second half, however, Dortmund equalised at the hour mark, and with Freiburg’s goalscorer Höfler sent off towards the end of normal time, the away side scored twice more to make it 2-4 to Edin Terzić’s men and a second defeat in a row for the home side.

Interview with Raphael Honigstein

I spoke to Atheltic football journalist Raphael Honigstein to give some insight into Freiburg and their expectations in the Europa League this season

How is Olympiakos perceived in the German media going into this game?

“I think it's still the same. Everything went for Freiburg last time, but they are a team that is punching above their weight and as we saw against Dortmund when they're not at 100% or when things quite go for them with one or two refereeing decisions, then they cannot expect to win a game like this. I think there is kind of a cautious respectful optimism that they can do as well as they did last season, but no real assumption or expectation that it is going to pan out the same way.”     

How much has Freiburg’s squad changed since the two sides last met?

“Junior Adamu has come in, he's a very interesting centre forward who they have great hope for. He was the main transfer for 6 million Euros, which for Freiburg is a big chunk, that gives an idea of the kind of players they usually buy. They've been overachieving for so long that people have gotten used to it but they're still restricted in what they can spend and a player like this is massive for them.”  

What is the expectation from fans and the media for Freiburg in the Europa League & Bundesliga this season?  

“This is not just the icing on the cake, this is the cake. This is why they have worked so hard to be in this competition and they are still not taking these nights for granted. There is going to be an amazing atmosphere in all the home games, they live and breathe for these kinds of occasions. I don't think anyone is thinking in terms of winning the competitions simply because they just wouldn't be among the contenders especially once the Champions League sides come in. Freiburg will hope to go as far as possible but there is no real sense or expectation of adding silverware here. 

They haven't won a lot of silverware in their history, just being in the Europa League is a huge success for them and as we saw last season they didn't consider it a distraction. They didn't think this would somehow impede their chances in the Bundesliga they came very close to finishing in the top four and ultimately it wasn't down to the Europa League that they didn't make it. They will see it as a privilege and a tremendous achievement in itself to be taking part in this competition.”   

Who are the key players that would be seen as a threat to Olympiakos in this game?

“The Austrian striker Michael Gregoritsch has been a real key player for Freiburg. He is very unselfish, can play as a number 10, holds up the ball well and scores, especially from headers which makes him such a threat from set pieces and they are very good from set pieces. It's something that they focus on, that attention to detail. If he was to miss out through injury then that would be a big blow.” 

How has the loss of Goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Brentford affected Freiburg going into this season?

“Flekken was a huge player, a big presence and very good on the ball which is why Brentford signed him. But I don't think that they have seen any problems with him leaving. They have conceded quite a few goals, but I don't think that's down to the new keeper necessarily. The game against Dortmund when they conceded two in added time when they were one man down, probably doesn't tell us much about them suddenly being very frail defensively.”

Would finishing lower than the top two in the group be seen as a failure or would Freiburg be happy to stay in Europe for 2024 even if it was in the Conference League? 

“Manager Christian Streich is incredibly driven and a terrible loser. He will want to move on in this competition and not drop into the next one and I'm sure the players feel the same. But Freiburg as a club, in terms of the people running the club and the people supporting the club, they don't have these demands. They just enjoy the ride; they see it as a huge gift and a privilege to be in Europe because they have no right to be there. 

I don't think you’d find anyone in Freiburg saying, we have to win, we have to finish top two or it is a disaster. The club isn't run like that and I think the fanbase doesn't feel that way. This is a club that achieved miraculous things relative to its budget and you won't find anyone having big ideas of what has to come next. Just being where they are is such a thrill that people are determined to enjoy it irrespective of what happens next.”

Final Thoughts

Thrylos have come a long way since last encountering Freiburg. The squad has been rebuilt with much greater quality and depth, thanks to the hard work of Antonio Cordon. The style of football is much more attractive and exacting to watch with Diego Martinez at the helm. Although there is still a way to see this group of players at their full potential as a team, Olympiakos seems to be heading in the right direction. 

The players, who remained in the squad from last season, know the test that awaits them when they host Freiburg on Thursday night. Although it has been a mixed start to the season for the Bundesliga side, they will still be a tough opponent to overcome. A win over the German club would show just how far Olympiakos come, a year on from that terrible night in Piraeus. 

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football