Olympiakos vs Omonia, UCL Playoff Build Up

Olympiakos vs Omonia, UCL Playoff Build Up

By Stephen Kountourou

For the 3rd time in four seasons Olympiakos found themselves in the Champions League playoffs. 

Despite not having to go through the labourious task of starting the 2020/21 campaign in the earlier qualifying stages, the ultimate goal, despite not changing in reaching the group stage, is arguably even more important than it has ever been. With Covid19 preventing fans into stadiums, and ticket sales being a big source of revenue that Thrylos rely on, the boost of winning 30 million Euros for reaching the most prestigious competition in club football is vital for the Piraeus side. 

The side that stands in their way however, is AC Omonia. To the neutral on looker, this seems a rather straight forward task for the Greek Champions, and while I firmly believe that Olympiakos are a superior side, the team from Nicosia certainly have upset potential on their side. This match will also have a massive impact on both countries coefficient as Greece are looking to improve on their lowly 18th placement and Cyprus above them in 16th, a placement even I could not have foreseen for such a small country to be, cheeky plaudits to my Kyprei bros. So the questions I will attempt to answer by looking at both sides in this blog and how they have fared so far the season are, can Olympiakos reach the group stage of the Champions League once more over two legs, can Omonia qualify for the competition for the first time since 1989/90? Who are the key men for both sides and what both teams could look like going into the 1st leg in Piraeus? 

All that and more in my build up blog for Olympiakos vs Omonia.

How Both Teams have Started the Season

With the European season already rather skewed, due to the pandemic, Olympiakos started the season, ironically, by playing last season's Greek Cup final. After two postponements of the final itself and of their first match of the new domestic season against the very opponent they would face in this fixture, they defeated AEK 0-1 and won a domestic double. Thrylos were able to bypass the Champions League 3rd qualifying round, thanks to both Italian side Napoli and french side Lyon failing to win last season's competition, and were instead slotted into the Playoffs places. They began their title defence last week with a convincing 3-0 win over Asteras Tripolis. All in all, a rather straight forward start for the Greek champions.

 

Omonia's start to the season has been far busier than that of their opponents. Unlike Olympiakos, they had to start their season in mid August in the Champions League first qualifying round against Armenian side Ararat-Armenia, who they squeezed past in extra time 0-1 away. 

They also had a domestic campaign to start days later, which saw them draw 2-2 with Pafos FC. Four days later they then had a tougher task in the 2nd qualifying round, away to Polish side Legia Warsaw. After seeing the home side go down to ten men, Omonia were able to win the match in extra time 0-2 sending them to the next round of qualifying. They then continued their solid start of their 2020/21 campaign with a 1-0 at home to Karmiotissa and a 1-1 draw with title rivals Anorthosis Famagusta in the Cyprus First Division. The biggest test of them so far this season occurred in the 3rd qualifying round when they faced Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. 

After the Cypriot side went ahead only to concede just before half time, both sides could not be separated after 90 minutes and the match went to extra time and then penalties. With Red Star failing to score their final two shots from the spot, Omonia ran out winners 4-2 on penalties, with Olympiakos lying in wait for them in the playoffs. Their most recent fixture before this week's European clash, was in the league where they narrowly beat AEK Larnaka 2-1 thanks to a late goal in the 89th minute. 

Competitive Record again both Greek and Cypriot opposition 

Even though it really does not mean much when it comes to the two sides clashing, it is still interesting to take a look at the record of both Olympiakos, and Omonia against Cypriot and Greek sides respectively.

 

Olympiakos have previously played against Cypriot sides on eight previous occasions with the first being way back in 1965/66 when Olympiakos first Cypriot opponents were ironically Omonia. Over two legs in the first round of the now defunct Cup Winners Cup Thrylos were able to defeat the Vasilissa over two legs, 0-1 away and 1-1 and home, winning the tie and progress to the next round. They would not be drawn with a Cypriot side again until the 1998/99 Champions League 2nd qualifying round, where they were pitted against Anorthosis Famagusta. 

Once again Olympiakos had no trouble getting past their opponents winning 2-1 at home and a huge 2-4 away victory, in a European campaign that would see the Piraeus side reach the quarterfinals, the best finish in the Champions League to date. From here on out this was where Olympiakos record when facing Cypriot sides became rather patchy. 10 years after they played Anorthosis, they would play them again in 2008/09, this time in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, but it would be a very different story. 

The Greek Champions would see their side crushed 3-0 in Cyprus and despite winning in Piraeus 1-0 they were sent down to the UEFA Cup in disgrace. Six years later, after Olympiakos reached the Europa League group stage in 2016/17, they were drawn in a group with Cypriot champions APOEL. Despite being favourites to top the group, Thrylos lost home and away to the side that also refer to themselves as 'The Legend' 0-1 and 2-0 respectively. 

This leaves Olympiakos record against Cypriot sides standing at eight matches played, four wins, one draw, three loses and surprisingly with a minus goal difference of nine goals scored and eleven conceded.

 

Omonia have only played Greek opposition twice in Europe over their history, the first encounter being against PAOK in the first round of the European Cup in 1976/77. 

The side from Thessaloniki were too strong for the Nicosia team as Omonia was defeated 0-2 at home and could only draw 1-1 away in northern Greece. Their second bout with a Greek side had to wait until their UEFA Cup tie with AEK Athens in 2008/09. This went very differently for the Cypriots as they were able to knock out their opponents over two legs, drawing 2-2 at home in Nicosia and then shockingly defeating Enosis in Athens 0-1. Their record stands at one win, two draws and one loss in four matches, with a goal difference of four goals scored and five conceded.

Players to Lookout For going into this Match

Time to take a look at a few players from both sides that could give either opponent trouble in this first leg tie in Piraeus starting with the home side. 

Olympiakos 

Jose Sa: 

News has come out recently that the Portuguese shot stopper has fully recovered from his hand injury he sustained a couple of months ago and is not only back in to full training but should be available for this tie against Omonia, which gives Thrylos a huge boost going into this game. Yes he has not played since the end of last season, and I would not be opposed to seeing young Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, get the shout to play after his impressive performances of late, but Sa still bring the experience in the big European games to warrant playing in these two legs.   

 

Ruben Semedo:

From being on the verge of leaving Piraeus back to his native country of Portugal, the talented centre back has done a massive u-turn in the last couple of weeks and is actually on the verge of signing a new contract with the club. Semedo is definitely one of the most important parts of the Olympiakos side and should give the Omonia attack a lot of trouble in creating any chances if he is in defence.

 

Mady Camara:

Depending on what happens in these next few games this could be the Guinean’s last couple of matches in Greece as he is in talks of a move away to Italian side Fiorentina. Still the classy midfielder who has gone from strength to strength with Olympiakos and is always up for a big match in any competition needs to show why he is becoming one of the most highly touted players outside Europe's top 5 leagues.

 

Giorgios Masouras:

I, like many other people before me have said the same thing about Masouras and it is that he is a tireless worker on the left hand side of midfield. After scoring two against Asteras Tripolis last Friday he will be more than up for getting a couple more in this huge tie against the Cypriot side.

 

Kostas Fortounis:

Whether he starts or comes on as a super sub to bring more attacking and precise passing, to put it simply, Thrylos needs Fortounis in this playoff tie. Over the last few seasons even when he has not been a first team regular he has always popped up with important goals for Olympiakos in must win games in Europe and this will be no exception. Probably the Greek Champions most talented player, Omonia should be very afraid of the Greek international.

Now onto the away side and the players that Thrylos should watch out for.

Omonia 

Fabiano:

The veteran goalkeeper has been solid between the sticks for Omonia during the start of the season in all competitions having kept 3 clean sheets in his last six games. The Brazilian was one of the heroes in the Cypriot sides Champions League qualifier against Red Star, saved two penalties to help his side to a dramatic victory. 

 

Giannis Kousoulos: 

The versatile Cypriot international has already shown his worth to his side by being able to play in his primary position at hold midfield as well as right back and centre back when called upon. If Olympiakos are going to have a stern test against anyone in the Omonia defence it will be from the 24 year old.

 

Eric Bauthéac:

The most attacking threat statistically so far for Omonia this season, the french verteran attacking midfielder is the current top scorer for the Cypriot giants having found the back of the next most frequently in Europe this season. Somebody Thrylos defence would not like to be caught falling asleep against based on his current form.

 

Fotios Papoulis: 

While born in Athens the veteran forward has played most of his career in Cyprus and has represented the Cypriot national team. Still, with his time in Greece playing for numerous clubs at different levels he will have the experience of playing against Olympiakos in the superleague. While he has not been a definite starter for Omonia this season, that experience could come in handy and we could see him starting against the Greek Champions in either leg.

Final Thoughts and Prediction

 

To conclude, I believe this will be a tougher game then people may give credit. Omonia, over their last three ties against other champions of different countries have shown resilience in defence, the ability to play a game out and to find the golden opportunity to score and win ties at any cost, even against opposition that, on paper are much better then they are.  

Manager Henning Berg has created a very well drilled side capable of an upset, but over two legs, as unbiased as I can be, I believe that Olympiakos will be too strong for this Omonia side. Especially with the first game in Piraeus, I will go with a 2-0 Olympiakos victory, away from home it will be tougher but, again, I think the Greek champions will see out the tie against their Cypriot opponents and reach the Champions League group stage.

Hella Football

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