Olympiacos’ path to the UEFA Europa League group stages
 

AGONAsport’s Sarantos Kaperonis explains Olympiacos’ path to the UEFA Europa League group stages breaking down the possible opponents, the qualifying format, and key dates during the qualifying process.

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Greece’s representatives for the 2018/19 UEFA season

At the end of the 2016/17 UEFA season, Greece finished 14th in UEFA's Associations’ Club Coefficient Ranking. With this placement, the 2017/18 Greek SuperLeague and Greek Cup yielded a total of 5 representatives for next year's 2018/19 UEFA Champions League & Europa League. The top two teams from the SuperLeague will enter the Champions League (AEK, PAOK) while the 3rd-5th placed team of the SuperLeague (Olympiacos, Atromitos, Asteras Tripolis) will enter the UEFA Europa League (Asteras were granted a place in Europe due to PAOK winning the Greek Cup).

Olympiacos’ path to the Europa League group stages

Different from previous seasons, Europa League qualifying will be separated into two groups: The Champions Route, consisting of teams that won their domestic leagues and were eliminated in Champions League qualifying, and the League Route, consisting of teams that did not win their domestic leagues (majority of the teams). As a non-league champion, Olympiacos will participate in the League Route.

As Greece’s SuperLeague third placed team, Olympiacos will enter the UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round (League Route), meaning the Erythrolefki will need to progress through TWO qualifying rounds (3rd round and playoffs) to qualify for the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League group stages. A defeat in any of the qualifying rounds will end Olympiacos’ European campaign for the season.

All qualifying rounds consist of a two-legged playoff and the team with the most goals over two legs (on aggregate) will progress to the next round. In the case of a tie on aggregate after two legs, the team with the most away goals will advance. For more clarification on the qualifying process, follow the links to the full Champions League Format and Europa League Format.

Olympiacos’ possible opponents

Due to Olympiacos’ high placement in UEFA's Club Coefficient Ranking (25th), the Erythrolefki will be "seeded" for the 3rd qualifying round and playoff draws, leading to theoretically easier opponents.

Some notable possible opponents in the 3rd qualifying round include: Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR), Vitesse (NED), Gabala (AZE), Brondby (DEN), Apollon Limassol (CYP), and Hajduk Split (CRO).

If Olympiacos advance to the Europa League playoffs, Olympiacos’ notable possible opponents include the teams mentioned above plus Leipzig (GER), Partizan (SRB), Burnley (ENG), Rijeka (CRO), Atalanta (ITA), Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR), and Feyenoord (NED).

Important Champions League qualifying dates for Olympiacos

23 July: Third qualifying round draw

6 August: Playoff round draw

9 August: Third qualifying round, first leg

16 August: Third qualifying round, second leg

23 August: Play-off round, first leg

30 August: Play-off round, second leg

by Sarantos Kaperonis

Image Source: to10.gr

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