Powerful Olympiacos click into gear during second half of campaign
Having fully got to grips with Pedro Martins’ demands, Olympiacos have been superb during the second half of the 2018/2019 Super League campaign, conceding only the one defeat since December.
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Olympiacos didn’t play to their potential on a regular basis in the first stage of the season. With new head coach Pedro Martins in charge of a heavily revamped squad, the Erythrolefki weren’t consistent enough, notably losing in Heraklion to promoted OFI and only picking up the one point in key matches against PAOK and AEK. At times, Olympiacos played excellent, attractive football which was pleasing to the eye, but they failed to take advantage of the many opportunities which came their way. The 0:1 defeat to PAOK at the Karaiskakis Stadium in late September is a perfect example.
Nevertheless, after drawing 1:1 on the road against Xanthi on December 9, Olympiacos have clicked into gear. Ever since that game, Olympiacos have won 15 out of their next 16 Super League games, dropping just the one loss. However, that defeat was decisive, as Olympiacos were beaten 3:1 by eventual champions PAOK in Thessaloniki. PAOK’s fantastic record in Super League derbies, in stark contrast to Olympiacos’ and AEK’s thoroughly underwhelming results in the headline games, has won them their maiden Greek championship in 34 years.
Olympiacos’ positive results in Piraeus have been an important factor in their winning streak. This season, Olympiacos have tasted victory in 13 of 15 games at the Karaiskakis Stadium, drawing 1:1 against Panathinaikos and being upended 0:1 by PAOK in the two matches they didn’t win. After thrashing Xanthi 4:0 on matchday 28, the Thrylos’ goal total at home rose to 42, their best tally since 2016 (45 home goals) when Marco Silva was at the helm. The Erythrolefki also boast a better overall goal difference than PAOK: +51 (68-17) in comparison to +50 (64-14).
A driving force behind Olympiacos’ improvement has been the leadership of star midfielder Kostas Fortounis, Playing with motivation and hunger, the 26-year-old has been practically unstoppable in the Super League, earning 12 goals and nine assists in 27 games. The Olympiacos captain is predicted to extend his contract through to 2023. Further forward, Egyptian striker Ahmed Hassan has burst into life in 2019, netting eight of his 10 Super League goals in the new calendar year.
Had Olympiacos been more clinical in the deciding games, the title race could have turned out very differently, but the Erythrolefki can be satisfied with at least returning to the UEFA Champions League after a one-year hiatus. Olympiacos will begin their Champions League campaign in the second qualifying round having comfortably fought off the challenge posed by AEK for second spot in the table.
