OM - Olympiakos (2-1) : First points

THE SAME ELEVEN

After the great success in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats against Nantes, last Saturday, with the score of 3 goals to 1, André Villas-Boas renewed the same starting eleven against Olympiakos for the 5th match of UEFA Champions League Group C.

OM COOLED BY CAMARA

It was the beginning of the first closed period we saw between OM and Olympiakos. The home side entered the game well and controlled the ball well, but they hit a wall in front of them. But they managed to create some gaps. On a corner with an off target half-volley of Payet, a shot on target of Thauvin which Sà went down well, an out-of-bounds attempt of Rongier from outside the box, and a cross of Payet for Rongier who couldn't find the target.
After half an hour of play, Olympiakos had its strongest moment, even if the Greeks had had some chances before. A first cross turned into a corner for Caleta-Car had given the alert. Then, Camara on the edge of the area placed a ball from the left out of Mandanda's reach.

TWO PENALTIES THANKS TO VAR

In the second half, André Villas-Boas made his first change immediately with the entry of Germain in place of Benedetto. The riders from Marseille quickly equalised with a penalty obtained from the VAR after a foul of Cissé on Thauvin. Payet transformed it by finding the top corner of Sà. After 491 minutes of play, Diawara, scorer against Dortmund in 2013, was no longer the author of the last Olympic achievement in the Champions League.
At one apiece, Sanson replaced Cuisance. He was quick with a good call and a shot on target but not powerful enough to deceive the Greek keeper.

In the 73rd minute, on a powerful shot from Rongier, Rafinha was guilty of a one-handed hit. The referee first whistled a free kick but alerted by the VAR, he reversed his decision and awarded a penalty for OM. Payet did it again and found the top corner again on Sà's left!

STRESS LATE ON

Leading the game for the first time, the Greeks attacked from all directions. There were plenty of chances in the six minutes of extra time. Alvaro sacrificed himself in particular when he pounced on a powerful shot from Cissé.
To break the rhythm, André Villas-Boas brought in Aké in place of Thauvin. Cissé tried his luck again but his rebound went over Mandanda's goal... Phew!

ObjectiVE Europa League

With this success against Olympiakos, OM has re-launched itself in the race for the third qualifying place for the Europa League. In order to obtain this ticket, they will have to do better than Olympiakos on the sixth and last day of the group phase. Indeed, in case of a tie between two teams, it is the particular goal difference that is taken into account to decide between them. The goal scored by the Greeks this evening at the Orange Vélodrome gives them an advantage against the Marseille team. On Wednesday 9th December, OM will play Manchester City and Olympiakos will host Porto.