Marseille vs Olympiakos Champions League build up

Marseille vs Olympiakos

Champions League build up

The Biggest Game of the Season 

By Stephen Kountourou

The end is in sight for the Champions League group stage. A few sides have already sealed their fate, whether they have guaranteed themselves the round of 16 or for others, elimination from European football completely. There is however, still a lot to play for before continental football finishes for the calendar year. This argument can certainly be made for Group C. Despite Manchester City booking themselves a place into the round of 16 last week, for the rest of the sides in their group this could be a make or break week, particularly Olympiakos. After a slim 0-1 loss in Piraeus to Man City last week, Thrylos will be looking for their first win since Match Day 1, against the side that they last defeated on that day, Marseille. 

 

It is quite simply a must win game this Tuesday night away at the Velodrome, as that would cement the Greek Champions a place in the Europa League round of 32 while also still giving themselves a slim chance to clinch 2nd place in the group when they face Porto on the final match day of the group stage. For OM, having suffered a record breaking defeat to Porto last week, they can still give themselves the chance of staying in Europe next year, if they can win at home and hope that they can overcome their Greek opponents on the head to head rule. So this week I will be building up to the huge clash between Marseille vs Olympiakos, in a game that could define the season defining for both teams.   

Last Time....In the Champions League

Olympiakos

As I referred to previously, Olympiakos were outshone by a Manchester City side that were looking for a positive result after losing 2-0 to Spurs in the Premier League. With 7 players out in total, thanks to injuries and others testing positive for Covid19, manager Pedro Martins played an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation with players like Mady Camara playing out on the wing, somewhere he has been deployed before, as well as Fortuonis in the false 9 up front. The goal was ultimately to contain the wave after wave of attacks from City and maybe sneak a draw, and for a while it looked like it was starting to work. It was clear that the Erythrolefki were frustrating their superior opponent in the first half, that was until one mistake ten minutes from half time eventually led to Phil Foden putting the sky blues ahead 0-1.

With their backs pressed against the wall for much of the game, Olympiakos struggled to create anything, or indeed leave their own half, but were able to contain much of City's dangerous attacks, mostly thanks to the master class of Jose Sa in goal. Minutes before time, the Piraeus side had their first and only golden chance of the game as Fortounis shot at goal went just wide of the post, almost giving his team a late equaliser. It was not to be the case sadly and despite their best efforts Olympiakos settled with the slim 0-1 loss. City booked themselves a place into the next round of the Champions League, with Thrylos aiming to be on the right side of the score line against Marseille the following week.

 

Marseille

This was a real hard hitter for Les Olympiens. OM came into their reverse match in France,, vs Porto, needing to get a result in the game for the chance to stay in the Champions League. It was not to be sadly and their poor European form continued as they were defeated 0-2, thanks to goals from former Olympiakos target, Zaidu Sanusi just before half time, and then after both sides went down to ten men former PAOK player Sergio Oliveira scoring a penalty to seal the game for the Dragons. 

 

This puts Porto in a fairly comfortable position now to finish 2nd, which they can officially do if they get a result against Manchester City on Match Day 5. The result not only knocked out Marseille of the Champions League, with Europa League still to play for this Tuesday night, but also meant that OM have the longest winless run in the competitions history at 13 games, not to mention the joint longest run without a clean sheet.  

When Both Sides Last Faced Each Other

 

To touch quickly on the events of the two sides last encounter, Olympiakos hosted Marseille on Match Day 1 at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Overall on paper it seemed a fairly even game, with OM playing better in the first half, Olympiakos making a slow start to the game but neither side being able to find an opener in the first half. Thrylos slowly built in confidence in the 2nd half and began to dominate proceedings and came close a couple of times to scoring. Eventually, Pedro Martins threw on Hassan with four minutes of regular time to go and he confirmed his managers confidence in him by scoring a late winner, thanks to former Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena, with a peach of a cross to find the Egyptian strikers head and giving Olympiakos the 1-0 win.

How Both Sides Fared Domestically 

Both sides had morale boosting results over the weekend in their respective domestic competitions. 

 

Olympiakos 

Thrylos faced a real test against Thessaloniki side Aris, who were flying high on the same number of points as them, but only behind the on goal difference. Travelling away to the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium is always a stern challenge at the best of times, but Olympiakos needed a strong showing to boost both the team and supporters going into their huge Champions League tie the next week. With the likes of El Arabi and Jose Holebas returning to the starting line up, the side looked much more balanced against Akis Mantzios men. Thrylos began the game on the front foot, with Kostas Fortounis, back to his very best, nearly scoring early on, after dodging passed two Aris players but his shot going just wide of the post. For the 2nd week in a row the Greek champions would find the back of the net in the first half. After a freekick was crossed in by Fortounis it found the foot of Andreas Bouchalakis, who pushed the ball with his studs into the net, to firmly put his side 1-0 up. Minutes after the 2nd half commenced, it was the same assist provider and scorer to put Olympiakos 2-0 up.

After El Arabi passed the ball out wide, Fortounis continued down the right hand side and put in an early cross which found Bouchalakis who, after bringing the ball down, scored a fantastic strike, which curled past the keeper to double the visitors lead. After a couple more close chances for Thrylos, it would be Aris that pulled one back, after a low cross found Facundo Bertoglio who put the ball past Jose Sa at close range. Despite this Olympiakos played out the rest of the game and came away with the win, which kept the champions top of the table and a great performance to take with them to France. 

 

Marseille

 

OM also responded well to their midweek defeat as they faced Nantes last Saturday in Ligue 1. They went ahead almost immediately thanks to a goal from Florian Thauvin two minutes into the game with a follow up from Dimitri Payet ten minutes from half time. After dominating most of the game in terms of shots compared to their opponents, Les Olympiens won a penalty which was converted by Dario Benedetto and putting the game almost completely out of sight. Even after conceding in the latter stages of the 2nd half it was too little too late for Nants and OM ended the game with a resounding victory, and in doing so maintained 2nd place and only two points behind PSG.

 

Injuries and Suspensions 

Olympiakos

As far as I am aware, most of the injuries and covid cases have been overcome and a much fuller squad will travel to France then when they faced Manchester City last week. As said before El Arabi is fully fit as is Jose Holebas, both of whom played against Aris over the weekend. Ahmed Hassan, while testing negative for Covid19, has not travelled with the squad for their away tie with Randjelovic and Bruma still injured. Mathieu Valbuena is still injured too but travels with the squad to his former club for moral support.

 

Marseille

OM, have a relatively strong squad going into this week's Champions League fixture, although a few players will be unavailable. One of the bigger losses will be Leonardo Balerdi who was sent off in the last match with Porto and is therefore suspended for this game. Midfielder Morgan Sanson is a doubt to play as is Nemanja Radonjic is currently out injured. 

Outro and Prediction

To finish, this is quite frankly is a game neither side can afford to lose. For Olympiakos, a draw is the very least they need to guarantee Europa League football, even if it means giving up 2nd place to Porto but it would be hoped by many, that Thrylos go all out and get the win to keep their slim hunt for 2nd place alive. For Marseille nothing but a win will do as getting anything from Manchester City on the final match day is highly unlikely and it would be a huge boost in ending their baron run of winless games. If I was to predict the line up for Olympiakos this Tuesday night, I think that Pedro Martins starts a similar side that he did against Aris, 4-3-3 with Holebas coming in for Drager and putting Rafinha back at right back, with a midfield three of Camara, Bouchalakis and M'Vila, maybe with Masouras and Fortounis on the left and right, behind El Arabi up front. When the side needs to perform in these big games they normally pull a huge performance out of the bag and that is also what I am quietly confident will happen tomorrow night. I predict that Olympiakos run out as 1-0 winners and secure themselves a place in the Europa League round of 32.

Hellas Football 

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