Thrylos in Championship Form

AGONAsport’s Olympiacos contributor, Theo Bouras, talks about the Erythrolefki’s excellent form after another key win over rivals AEK this past Sunday.

Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage with Go Greek TV! 

As successful as Pedro Martins’ first season was with Olympiacos; his detractors often kept mentioning how he won no silverware and how his record in derbies was mediocre. In their second derby of the season, Olympiacos decisively defeated AEK Athens 2-0 and remain at the top of the Greek Super League table.

Early Dominance

The Erythrolefki made sure to dictate the pace from the start of the match and got on the board early with the Ruben Semedo’s fourth goal of the season. With French star Mathieu Valbuena still unavailable, Martins was left with little choice but to clog his midfield with Andreas Bouchalakis, Mady Camara, and Guilherme.

Bouchalakis and Guilherme were solid but it was Camara who was superb. The Guinean international timed his tackles excellently and moved the ball around superbly. His biggest attribute was that he constantly made himself open and was able to get good looks to the net; his final blast resulted in the team’s second goal.

The defensive line wasn’t tested often but when they were, Semedo was calm and Avraam Papadopoulos did a commendable job. Papadopoulos was pegged to start the season as the team’s fifth-choice center-back in the depth chart, but injuries, departures, and Meriah’s streaky play as of late have the 34-year-old playing a key role on the team.

Omar Elabdelloui and Kostas Tsimikas also made dangerous and timely runs which gave the team’s wingers options. Tsimikas, in particular, is in incredible form and seems like an offensive threat every time he touches the ball.

Hilal Soudani had a good start to the game but seemed to have fatigue in the second half when Giorgos Masouras replaced him. Soudani assisted Semedo’s first goal and has also had a string of impressive performances. Masouras continues to work hard and gives Martins constant effort. On the right, Daniel Podence continued to show why he is the best right winger in Greece. The fact that Podence is a weak finisher is the only reason why he is still playing in the Greek Super League.

Finally, Youssef El Arabi was held scoreless but continued to show his presence in the opposition’s 18-yard box. El Arabi should have had his second goal of the season, but VAR had other plans.

Still on top, but it won’t be easy

For the Gavroi, a victory over AEK Athens means a lot more than just three more points in the bank. It gives coach Martins and the players a victory over a bitter rival and jubilance from the supporters. The win also keeps Olympiacos in first place, two points clear of PAOK and now eight points on top of AEK.

The Legend’s schedule does not get any easier, with European fixtures and eventually Greek cup games filling out the schedule during the week. Martins is fully aware that he will need to get the most of his bench players to ensure that the fixture congestion doesn’t cost his team.

In addition to the difficult program that awaits the team, Olympiacos have to put up with officiating like the one we saw last Sunday. Throughout the course of the season, a trend of reckless and dangerous plays against Olympiacos players have often gone unpunished. This was highlighted once again in the first half when unsafe tackles by AEK players were simply cautioned with cards. Finally, El Arabi’s goal was called back on a very questionable handball by VAR but then again that isn’t news. Olympiacos seem to have a goal disallowed every matchday due to VAR.

As we saw in Volos last Saturday, the officiating has been beyond inconsistent. If Olympiacos are to return to the top of the Greek Super League, they will need to overcome their hectic schedule, a skilled PAOK, and the questionable and borderline dangerous officiating that is looking hell-bent to stop the Legend from their 45th Greek Championship.

by Theo Bouras

Image Source: to10.gr

Thank you for visiting AGONAsport.com, the only English based website for Greek sports fans across the world! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter for all the latest news in Greek Sports!