Olympiakos vs Fenerbahce: 
UEFA Conference League Quarter-Finals Preview 

By Stephen Kountourou

UEFA Conference League Quarter-Final First Leg: 11/04/24

Kick-off Time: 19:45 Greek Time

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis 

Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 3 HD

For the first time in 25 years, Olympiakos will compete in a major European quarter-final. Since that narrow defeat to Juventus in the 1998/99 edition of the UEFA Champions League, this moment is something Thrylos fans have been waiting for.

The chance to finally see their team go on a European run and, as slim a prospect as it may be, of winning a major continental trophy. 

In 14 matches, including qualifiers, famous wins, embarrassing defeats and quite possibly the greatest comebacks in the club's history, Jose Luis Mendilibar's men now face another very tough, but familiar opponent.  

Thrylos knows all too well what comes with facing Fenerbahce as the match is deep-rooted and goes beyond football for some and into the realm of a bitter historic rivalry which dates back hundreds of years. In recent times.

Thrylos have come out on top in clashes against the Turkish side, most recently in the 2021/22 edition of the Europa League group stages when a 0-3 win in Turkey was followed by a late 1-0 victory in Piraeus.

Despite Olympiakos going into this tie as underdogs, winning the first leg in Karaiskaki is vital before they travel away to the baptism of fire next week.

Last time in the UECL

Olympiakos 

Having lost the first leg of the round of 16 1-4 at home, Olympiakos travelled to Serbia needing a miracle to overcome the huge lead held by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Many thought it impossible and at the very least, Thrylos would bow out with a credible performance to make up for the poor showing in Piraeus.

What actually transpired in Topola was nothing short of miraculous. Daniel Podence on the ten-minute mark put the away side ahead on the night, which was followed by an excellent Kosas Fortounis strike and a goal from Ayoub El Kaabi just before half-time.

With the scoreline at 0-3, going into the second half with the tie level, Olympiakos were on the verge of achieving the miracle.

Despite conceding a penalty, which Eran Zahavi dispatched with ease, to go back in front in the tie, heads did not drop and Mendilibar’s men continued to search for a way back.

Just past the hour mark, El Kaabi scored his second with a spectacular overhead kick, once again levelling the tie. 

The match went to extra time with Thrylos having run riot in Serbia and it felt almost inevitable that more goals were to come. Mendiliber’s game management was near flawless with the impact substitutions of Stevan Jovetic and Youssef El Arabi, both of whom scored to complete an almighty turnaround.

It was the first time a Greek club came back from a three-goal deficit in Europe and it will go down as one of the biggest nights in the history of Olympiakos. 

Fenerbahce

The Turkish side took on the Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in their Conference League Round of 16 tie.

İsmail Kartal’s men ran out 0-3 winners away in Belgium with goals from Michy Batshuayi in the first half before Jayden Oosterwolde added a second and Dusan Tadic converted a penalty in added time. 

With one foot in the quarterfinals, Fenerbahce were narrowly defeated 0-1 in Turkey.

A goal on the hour mark by Mathias Rasmussen gave the Belgian side the win on the night but with 

the first leg being decisive, it was Fenerbahce that progressed at their expense. 

Recent Form

Olympiakos 

After the International break, Olympiakos had a mixed return to the Greek Super League playoffs. A narrow defeat to AEK at Agia Sofia was followed by an impressive 3-0 win in Piraeus over Aris.

In their latest fixture, despite leaving key players in Piraeus, Thrylos ran out 1-5 winners on the road against Lamia, with Stevan Jovetic opening proceedings before an Ayoub El Kaabi penalty and an own goal from Lamia put Mendilibar’s men 0-3 up at halftime. 

The Basque coach made changes to conserve players for Europe, but Olympiakos continued with the same intensity, forcing another own goal from Lamia to make it 0-4 before El Arabi made it five minutes later.

Lamia managed to score a consolation through Toshio Lake but the scoreline reflected the domination Olympiakos inflicted on the hosts.

Fenerbahce

The Turkish side returned from the break by defeating Adama Demirspor 4-2 at home, in the build-up to the Turkish Super Cup final against rivals Galatasaray. 

However, as a protest against the Turkish FA Fenerbahce fielded their U19s team against a full-strength Galatasaray.

After conceding in the first minute through Mauro Icardi, the Fenerbahce players walked off the pitch with the victory and the cup was awarded to Galatasaray. 

Can Thrylos dream?

The odds are stacked against Olympiakos going into this game. Fenerbahce have some dangerous individual players including Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic, Michy Batshuayi and Fred just to name a few and they have only lost one game domestically all season. 

But this is an opportunity that Olympiakos has found hard to come by in the modern era. That being a deep run in European competition, and maybe even, an unlikely European trophy.

There is also no weekend league fixture to play, with PAOK in Europe against Club Brugge so the match between the two sides is postponed giving both teams time to rest and prepare for the second leg. 

So while Thrylos go into the tie as underdogs, it is a situation that suits Mendilibar’s men more. It also means that, if Olympiakos achieve qualification to the quarter-finals, it will make the victory much sweeter.

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football