Just Enough Done, But There is Room for Improvement

Just Enough Done, But There is Room for Improvement

By Christian Leggas

Olympiacos did what they had to do against Omonia, securing a two-nil first-leg advantage to take into the return leg in Cyprus in six days.

Here is how each Olympiacos player performed in this game. 

Jose Sa: He would have had time to order a coffee and read a newspaper. The Olympiacos goalkeeper was largely untroubled for the entire game. 5.5/10.

Rafinha: Got given the licence to be almost a wing-back for a lot of this game. But in doing that, it allowed opposition left-back Jan Lecjaks to be their best route to a goal going the other way. You could not fault his efforts in trying to get forward and trying to be dangerous, but he was not able to find the killer ball enough. 6/10. 

Ruben Semedo: Was not called upon to thwart many dangers. Not much to do consistently except for some stock-standard passing and clearing headers. But, was tested a lot more by the visitors in the second half. 6/10. 

Ousseynou Ba: Much like his centre-back partner Semedo, he did not have to deal with much danger. However, he was guilty of a minor mistake just before half time that nearly resulted in a big chance for the visitors. Thankfully for the big defender, Omonia winger Eric Bautheac wasted that opportunity. 6/10. 

Jose Holebas: Like Rafinha, albeit not as much, got given the licence to get forward, almost like a wing-back, and unfortunately couldn't get that dangerous final ball in. Also did a better job of containing the likes of Fotis Papoulis and Eric Bautheac. 6/10.

Andreas Bouchalakis: Started the game quite well, his passing was on point. Despite playing in substitute Youssef El-Arabi for the home side's second goal, he couldn't always translate his passes into dangerous ones. But he was very clean on the ball all game none the less. Most of his work was noticeable in the first half in comparison to the second. 7/10.

Mady Camara: Was very energetic throughout the night, and his passing, like Bouchalakis, was very much on point and was very solid defensively. 6.5/10.

Giorgos Masouras: Struggled very much to get into the game and be an attacking threat, and didn't do a great job in helping out Rafinha when it came to thwarting Lecjaks and was replaced by Lazar Randjelovic fourteen minutes into the second half. 5/10.

Kostas Fortounis: Started a little sluggishly but grew into the game, and the evidence was there that he did try to get forward with decent runs and passing. But not impressive enough to last ninety minutes like Masouras, and was subbed off at the same time as his domestic and Ethniki teammate, in favour of Youssef El-Arabi. 5.5/10.

Mathieu Valbuena: Bobbed up nearly everywhere in the attacking third and tried so hard throughout the game to try and find the keys to open up the Omonia defence. And he eventually did, deservedly so too from the penalty spot as he made it one-nil. 8/10.

Ahmed Hassan: Wasn't given a heap of chances to make his mark on the game, though there was one header that just cleared the crossbar not long before half time. He also had a scuffed effort on goal in the second half that Omonia Keeper Fabiano had zero trouble in saving. He eventually made way for Yann M'Vila after seventy-six minutes. 5.5/10.

Subs:

Youssef El-Arabi: Was brought on at the same time as Randjelovic to give the home side the kick up the back-side they needed in an attacking sense. And his efforts were rewarded two minutes out from full time, with a sensational strike from distance to double Olympiacos' advantage going into the second leg. 7/10.

Lazar Randjelovic: Made exactly the impact in an attacking that Olympiacos coach Pedro Martins would have wanted him too when he came on for Masouras. His pace caused Lecjaks a lot more problems, so much so that the Serbian Dasher played a big part in winning the penalty. 7/10.

Yann M'Vila: Didn't do enough to warrant a rating in the time-frame in which he spent on the pitch. N/A. 

Bruno Souza: N/A. 

Pape Cisse: N/A. 

Konstantinos Tzolakis: N/A. 

Cafu: N/A.