Olympiakos vs FK Bodø/Glimt: 

UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Preview

By Stephen Kountourou

UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg: 13/03/25

Kick-off Time: 19:45 Greek Time

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus

Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 4 HD

It was almost a year ago since Olympiakos lost the first leg of the Conference League round of 16 tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-1, only to stage one of the most miraculous comebacks on the continental stage, winning 6-1, and qualifying for the quarter-finals at the expense of the Israeli side. 

Now, Jose Luis Mendilibar and his players face a similar but much more daunting task, this time against FK Bodø/Glimt. Thrylos were well beaten 3-0 in Norway and, barring perhaps a conciliation goal in the second half, did not deserve anything from that game and now have the task of replicating what happened last season, at the Georgos Karaiskakis Stadium on Thursday. 

Despite a hopeful optimism from the fan base that Thrylos can overturn the tie, it will be arguably even harder than the achievements against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Unlike The Israeli side, FK Bodø/Glimt boast a much better squad, a much better record in recent years in UEFA competitions and no side has won more matches in Europe this season than the Norwegian side.

Of course, there were extenuating circumstances for Olympiakos. Injuries to key players, most of all Ayoub El Kaabi, the weather and the completely astroturf pitch will have factored into the conditions of the match. 

But these are not good enough excuses to justify the poor showing from the players, who were very much second-best throughout the majority of the match and gave Bodø/Glimt, too much respect and time on the ball to create and finish their chances, while also not converting theirs when the opportunity arose. 

The team that Thrylos fielded, while not as strong as it could have been was still capable enough of getting a result away from home, as they had done against Malmo and Porto, two places that the Conference League holders had never won away before, but did so this season, albeit with El Kaabi being the scorer in both games they were still the better team in both League Phase matches. 

Jose Luis Mendilbiar, who has been unnecessarily scrutinised by certain members of the fan base online ever since he arrived at the club, did not in fairness, have his best game when it came to setting up the team and making the right substitutes at the right time. 

But it also is worth mentioning, for Mendilibar and the players, the achievement of going 26 games upbeat in all competitions, a feat that deserves recognition and one that would have been hard for any team to maintain for a longer period of time. It is just a shame of the manner in which the streak was ended, in a game where Olympiakos were well beaten.

What needs to happen now is for the supporters to back the team all the way at home on Thursday. With the playoffs pushed back to after the international break and with one foot into the Greek Cup final with a 6-0 aggregate score over AEK, Thrylos can now fully focus on Europe and try to right the wrongs of last week. 

The positivity despite the poor results has been encouraging and a welcome change to the unstoppable tie of negativity that usually follows after a defeat. No panic stations or calls for coaches to get sacked, just unity behind the team and an understanding that, even if Olympiakos bow out of Europe, do so with a convincing result and a win, both of which this team under the Basque coach is capable of doing. 

The question now is, can lightning strike twice?

In my personal opinion, yes. But as said it won’t be easy. What will be required of the team is not only to be better on the pitch on the night but to have the confidence and psychological edge too. The foundations of this have already been laid, similar to after the first leg against Maccabi Tel Aviv last season. 

Thrylos, in their last fixture of the Greek Super League regular season, defeated OFI to go seven points clear at the top of the table going into the playoffs by virtue of the other big clubs slipping up in the process. After full time it was announced to all the supporters in the Karaiskakis Stadium that Jose Luis Mendilibar has signed a one-year extension to remain in Piraeus until 2026. 

Another boost came in the form of Andre Horta and Dani Garcia being cleared to play against the Norweigan side in the second leg all of whom were missed last week. 

However, with Ayoub El Kaabi still being absent after being deemed not ready to play by the coaching staff, makes Thrylos task that much more challenging. 

These different factors, and with the 100 anniversary of Olympiakos being celebrated this week, could drive the players to right the wrongs of the first leg and, with a packed and loud Karaiskaki crowd, seal an unlikely place in the quarter-finals. As unlikely as it is, with Olympiakos under Mendilibar, never say never.

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football