Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Olympiakos: UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Preview

 Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Olympiakos: 
UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Preview


By Stephen Kountourou 



UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Second Leg: 14/03/24

Kick-off Time: 22:00 Greek Time

Venue: TSC Arena 

Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 2 HD


In some ways, it feels futile writing this preview. After last week's events in Karaiskaki, Olympiakos are almost certainly out of Europe. 

Always the Israeli clubs. 

Thrylos in general have taken huge steps back, after a poor display against Maccabi Tel Aviv and a few days later, on the club's 99th anniversary, and in the derby against Panathinaikos. 

All the good work Jose Mendilibar did in his first few weeks in charge feels wasted. But despite all of the recent disappointment we carry on. 

It's quite obvious what fans of the Piraeus side want to see when their club travels to Serbia. A response. Qualification, while not impossible, is highly unlikely.

So a strong end to the campaign with a win is needed to boost the club and supporters, going into the international break, where Olympiakos will have time to regroup.


Last time in the UECL

Olympiakos came into this game brimming with confidence, after a seven-game winning streak, which included the progression to the Round of 16 over Ferencvaros. 

What transpired in Piraeus, however, felt like a return to what fans had become used to the previous two seasons in big matches.

Maccabi Tel Aviv ran riot in Karaiskaki, winning 1-4 and putting the tie almost out of Thrylos’ reach. 

Within ten minutes, Mendilibar’s men found themselves 0-2 down after Eran Zahavi and Ido Shahar scored. Despite Ayoub El Kaabi pulling a goal back, Zahavi struck again to make it 1-3. 

After the break Olympiakos’ performance improved but lacked cutting edge to try and get back into the game. But with 20 minutes to go on, Dor Peretz scored to put Maccabi 1-4 up, meaning that Thrylos must travel to Serbia needing to overturn a three-goal deficit just to level the tie. 


Weekend results 

Olympiakos

In an almost identical display to that of Thursday night's disaster, Olympiakos were defeated in the first match of the playoffs by eternal enemies Panathinaikos. 

Thrylos took the lead through a wonder strike by Daniel Podence. But the Prasini, clearly taking the blueprint of Maccabi Tel Aviv, exploited the tired legs of Rodinei and Francisco Ortega on both flanks and forced Thrylos into making defensive mistakes. 

This eventually paid dividends as Panathinaikos scored twice in the last five minutes, through Tasos Bakasetas and Fotis Ioannidis, to go 1-2 up before halftime. 

After their capitulation, Olympiakos once again tried to get back into a game that they had allowed themselves to lose control of. Just like in Europe, despite trying to create half chances, it was the opposition that pounced. Ioannidis scored again to make it 1-3, winning the game for PAO.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Maccabi continued their good run of form in the Israeli Premier League by narrowly defeating Beitar Jerusalem 0-1. 

A penalty scored by Dan Biton just before halftime was enough to give them the victory away from home and extend their lead at the top of the table.    


Nothing to lose

The honeymoon phase for Jose Mendilibar in Piraeus is officially over and the Spanish coach has a lot of work to do over the upcoming international break to return Olympiakos to a more competitive image. 

Thursday night must be approached as a free hit, with progression to the quarter-finals unlikely. 

So with the pressure off, the Basque coach the team needs to give a performance that can restore the confidence of the supporters. 

The greatest example that the senior team can take inspiration from is that of the U19s squad. 

Sotiris Silaidopoulos boys, who defeated Bayern Munich 1-3 to reach the UEFA Youth League semi-finals, put on a display that is worthy of the club's 99th Anniversary. 

The winning streak at the beginning of Mendilibar’s tenure was not a fluke. So if he can return Olympiakos to the standard he set only a week or so ago, before the walls came crashing down, at the very least Thrylos can bow out of Europe with some restored pride.  


@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football


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