Olympiacos showing signs of progress under Martins’ stewardship
After last week’s win over Red Star Belgrade helped Olympiacos ensure European football in the new year, AGONAsport’s Peter Katsiris takes a look back on the success the club has enjoyed under Pedro Martins.
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A 1-0 defeat of Red Star Belgrade helped Olympiacos pip their Serbian counterparts to third place in UEFA Champions League Group B and a berth in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32.
Olympiacos will now face Arsenal in the Europa League Round of 32 as the Piraeus giants look to add to the success they’ve managed under head coach Pedro Martins. Having taken over in Piraeus ahead of last season, since Martins’ arrival in the port city the Erythrolefki have clinched progress in Europe on seven different occasions.
It’s a run that the club will look to continue in the new year, but at the very least the club have been able to turn the page in Europe after a tough run in the Champions League group stage just two years ago. In 2017/2018, then under the stewardship of Besnik Hasi before he was replaced by Takis Lemonis, Olympiacos struggled in a group that included big-hitters like Barcelona, Juventus, and Sporting Lisbon.
Olympiacos might have faced the same caliber opponents in their campaigns under Martins, but the Piraeus giants have certainly been a more competitive side on European nights including in their clashes with Bayern Munich and Tottenham this season.
After Olympiacos missed out on Champions League football last season, Martins’ first European success came in the 7-1 aggregate defeat of Luzern in the Europa League third qualifying round last season.
The Portuguese manager steered his side past Premier League outfit Burnley with a 4-2 win in the qualifying playoffs as Olympiacos clinched group stage football in Europe for the 21st consecutive season.
Paired with the likes of Real Betis, AC Milan, and Dudelange in the group stage, Olympiacos remained competitive in the group stage before a 3-1 defeat of Milan on the final day of action ensured Olympiacos would join Betis in the knockout round.
Olympiacos’ journey would end on a cold night in Kiev as the Piraeus giants couldn’t overcome an away-goals deficit in the Ukrainian capital before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Dynamo Kyiv.
Fast forward to this season, Olympiacos’ second-place finish in the Super League meant the Erythrolefki had to begin their Champions League journey in the second qualifying round.
After a scoreless first leg in Plzen, Olympiacos blitzed Viktoria Plzen for four goals in a 4-0 defeat of the Czech side to progress to the third qualifying round for a showdown with Turkish side Basaksehir.
It was a similar script for Olympiacos, who after taking the aggregate lead in the first leg in Turkey, managed to tighten their grip on the tie with a 2-0 win on home soil before ultimately running out 3-0 victors on aggregate.
Olympiacos’ journey continued in the playoff round against Russian outfit Krasnodar, though it was Olympiacos who were home for the first leg. A Miguel Angel Guerrero strike put Olympiacos in front in the first half before three rapid fire goals late in the contest gave the Erythrolefki a commanding 4-0 aggregate lead heading into the return leg. Olympiacos would eventually take care of business in Russia as Nabil El-Arabi’s brace secured passage to the Champions League group stage.
Having advanced to the Europa League, Olympiacos will look to clinch progress for the eighth time under Martins as the Portuguese coach looks to continue to prove he’s the best man for the job.
Olympiacos’ Peformances in Europe under Pedro Martins
Olympiacos – Luzern 4-0
Luzern – Olympiacos 1-3
Olympiacos – Burnley 3-1
Burnley – Olympiacos 1-1
Olympiacos – Real Betis 0-0
AC Milan – Olympiacos 3-1
Dudelange- Olympiacos 0-2
Olympiacos – Dudelange 5-1
Real Betis- Olympiacos 1-0
Olympiacos – AC Milan 3-1
Olympiacos – Dynamo Kyiv 2-2
Dynamo Kyiv – Olympiacos 1-0
Viktoria Plzen – Olympiacos 0-0
Olympiacos – Viktoria Plzen 4-0
Basaksehir – Olympiacos 0-1
Olympiacos – Basaksehir 2-0
Olympiacos – Krasnodar 4-0
Krasnodar – Olympiacos 1-2
Olympiacos – Tottenham 2-2
Red Star Belgrade – Olympiacos 3-1
Olympiacos – Bayern Munich 2-3
Bayern Munich – Olympiacos 2-0
Tottenham – Olympiacos 4-2
Olympiacos – Red Star Belgrade 1-0
