SLGR Player Review: Olympiacos excel with undefeated regular season
AGONAsport analyses the performances of each Olympiacos player during the 2019/2020 campaign, with the Reds on course to become Super League champions for the first time since 2017.
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THE STANDOUT PERFORMERS
1 - Jose Sa (G)
After signing a four-year deal last May, Jose Sa has proven that he is the right man for the job. In the Super League, he has 18 clean sheets and has only conceded more than once in one single game; a 4-2 victory over Aris Thessaloniki. In Europe, his standout performance at the Emirates Stadium was one of the key reasons the Legend eliminated the English giants, Arsenal.
21 – Konstantinos Tsimikas (LB)
Without a doubt, Tsimikas has been the team’s most consistent player this season. In what started out as a competition this past summer to see who would be coach Pedro Martins’ go-to man for the left-back position, Tsimikas blew Leonardo Koutris out of the water in the off-season. In 37 games this season, the 23-year-old has continued his dominating performances. Tsimikas’ finest moment this season was his epic run up the field in Toumba, where he seemed virtually unstoppable, which led to Olympiacos’ goal in their 0-1 victory.
24 – Oysseynou Ba (CB)
Pegged to be the team’s fifth center-back in the depth chart, the 24-year-old from Senegal has slowly climbed to the Starting XI. After the Christmas break, Ba has been a regular in the lineup with his finest hour coming in England against Arsenal.
4 – Mady Camara (MF)
The 23-year-old Camara has been a workhorse all season long. His 39 appearances this season rank him second in the squad (behind Giorgos Masouras), and his on-field play continuously improves. Camara continues to polish his game which now includes a powerful shot, good runs with the ball, and the ability to mark and outrun his opponents.
8- Guilherme (CM)
When he’s on his game, the Brazilian midfielder is on a class of his own. He is a hard-nosed tackler, possesses a cannon shot and calms the game down when the ball is at his feet. He has appeared in 36 games and found the back of the net 6 times. Guilherme has been timid since his return from injury but he’s a player who will show his class in no time.
5 – Andreas Bouchalakis (MF)
Nobody has been under more scrutiny than Andreas Bouchalakis. The Greek midfielder continues to defy the critics and has been an ironman for the Legend. Olympiacos do not have a better ball distributor than the Greek midfielder whose pinpoint passing opens up the game. Bouchalakis has also improved his defensive game where he continues to close opponents’ space with continuous running; he often leads the team in kilometers ran.
28 – Mathieu Valbuena (AM)
A lot of people would argue that Valbuena might be this year’s MVP and who can blame them? The 35-year-old has turned back the clock and has been the catalyst for Olympiacos’ offense with eight goals and 21 assists in 33 games played. The French attacking midfielder’s size and age are not in his favor but he continues to defy the odds.
11 – Youssef El-Arabi (ST)
If you don’t believe Valbuena is the team’s MVP this season, you most likely think El-Arabi is. The 33-year-old has tallied 24 goals in 39 overall appearances this year and has shown signs of an elite poacher. Not since the days of Kostas Mitroglou during that memorable 2013-14 season have the Erythrolefki had such a dangerous box striker.
THE RELIABLE PERFORMERS
16 - Bobby Allain (GK)
The 28-year-old French goalkeeper has answered the bell the few times he has been called upon. He has played exclusively in the Greek Cup and has allowed three goals in four games played while earning two clean sheets.
3 – Ruben Semedo (CB)
The Portuguese center-back would have been considered an “outstanding performer” in the first half of the season, but he has dropped a notch due to some poor decision making on and off the field. Through it all, Semedo continues to be a strong presence and has tremendous raw talent. He has played 37 games this season and has been cautioned with 13 yellow cards and one red card. The 25-year-old has also scored five times in all competitions with his biggest goal coming in England against Tottenham Hotspurs.
14 – Omar Elabdellaoui (RB)
The team’s oldest tenured player has quietly had another solid season. Elabdellaoui continues being the Greek Super League’s best right-back and his 38 games played are amongst the highest in the club. The Norwegian defender has been solid defensively and is also a big part of the team’s attack as his quick overlaps and his ability to whip in dangerous crosses have caused headaches for opposing defenses
34 – Avraam Papadopoulos (CB)
The 35-year-old is looking likely to retire this summer and if he looks back at his final season, he can do so with pride. Papadopoulos has competed in 14 games this season with his most notable performance taking place against PAOK in the first round of the Greek Championship. He has lost his speed with age, but his positioning on the pitch and his lethal tackling remain a strength in his game.
66 – Pape Abou Cisse (CB)
After having the first half of the season riddled with injuries, Cisse has been in fine form. Aside from his speed and dominance in the air, the Senegalese center-back has had some timely goals against Arsenal in London to send the game to extra-time and against Lamia in the Greek Cup quarter-finals to ensure the Erythrolefki went through.
2 – Hilal Soudani (RW)
After being excluded from the Champions League squad by coach Pedro Martins, the Algerian winger netted seven goals in 19 Super League appearances thus becoming a key member of the squad. Unfortunately for him, a torn ACL put an end to his season.
7 – Konstantinos Fortounis (CAM)
The team captain missed most of the season with an ACL injury that he suffered during the pre-season training last July. The attacking midfielder has shown signs that he is getting back to his usual match fitness scoring a beautiful goal in a 4-0 drubbing of last-place Panionios.
19 – Giannis Masouras (LM)
If there was a picture next to the word “reliable” in the dictionary, Masouras’ face would be it. We all know Masouras isn’t flashy, doesn’t possess fantastic speed, or is a lethal finisher. The Greek midfielder’s biggest strength is his work ethic. He is always the first to back-check when the team loses the ball and helps out the defense. He has appeared in a team-record 41 games and has netted seven goals. His biggest contribution was the cross that led to Youssef El- Arabi’s goal which knocked out Arsenal in the Europa League.
97 – Lazar Randjelovic (RW)
The 22-year-old turned many heads this past summer when he put on a show during the Champions League qualifiers. Randjelovic is often more successful when playing against open offenses and not defensive ones (like you would see in the Greek Super League). He has three goals (a fourth unofficial one against PAOK in Toumba) and two assists in 22 games and will be a pivotal part of this team’s future for years to come.
99 – Ahmed Hassan (ST)
In less than 500 total minutes, Hassan has found the back of the net four times since returning to Piraeus this past January. The Egyptian striker is a good complementary piece after El-Arabi.
THE DISAPPOINTING PERFORMERS
76 – Bruno Gaspar (RB)
Having competed in 14 games, Gaspar has failed to show that he has what it takes to replace Omar Elabdellaoui this summer, should the Norwegian not come to terms with the club for a contract extension. The right-back from Angola doesn’t possess much speed and his crosses can use some work.
18 – Bruno Felipe (MF)
Bruno certainly didn’t do himself any favors with his handball infraction in Turkey which led to a Basaksehir penalty in Champions League qualifying. The Brazilian never seemed to get Pedro Martins’ trust and a torn ACL will cost him the rest of the season.
22 – Maximiliano Lovera (SS)
The 20-year-old Argentinian has shown flashes of brilliance this year but has been unable to piece it all together. Lovera likes playing in back of the striker but has often been slotted into a winger position by coach Martins which might explain his mediocre play. He has been unable to find a rhythm but is young and will improve.
INSUFFICIENT PLAYING TIME TO BE RANKED
81 - Konstantinos Tzolakis (G)
The 17-year-old Tzolakis had a baptism of fire in the first leg of the Greek Cup semi-final in Toumba Stadium. The team’s coaches have raved about his raw ability and his work ethic during practices; he has the real potential to be the club’s goalkeeper of the future.
35 – Vasilis Torosidis (RB)
The 34-year-old has played less than 300 total minutes this season but his true value is the leadership he brings in the locker room. Torosidis’ playing days are most likely over, but his passion has proved to be invaluable this season.
26 – Cafu (CM)
The Portuguese midfielder was brought in to give some rest to the Bouchalakis Camara Guilherme trio but has been rarely used by Martins.
77 – Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (RW)
The 33-year-old winger has appeared in seven games but has tallied less than 230 total playing minutes. Injuries have unraveled his career and all is looking like he will be leaving Piraeus this summer.
29 – Emre Mor (CAM)
Mor came to Piraeus with a ton of highlight videos of spectacular talent and a bad reputation. The latter has apparently strained his relationship with Pedro Martins who has only used his services for a grand total of 47 minutes.
