6fabf671-b205-4fc2-b070-a89e6a704ac0.jpg

Olympiacos in the 2014/15 Champions League

SHARE
Olympiacos in the 2014/15 Champions League
Olympiacos in the 2014/15 Champions League
Olympiacos in the 2014/15 Champions League

Olympiacos saw in their Champions League campaign by edging a five-goal thriller with last season’s finalists and reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

All the odds were firmly stacked against Miguel’s men, but they quickly defied their title of underdogs when first Arthur Masuaku then Ibrahim Afellay shot them into a two-goal lead with just 31 minutes played.

Their dominance proved short-lived, however, as summer acquisition Mario Mandzukic immediately reduced the arrears when he headed Cristian Ansaldi’s cross beyond Roberto to lay the foundations for a second-half revival.

The introduction of substitute Antoine Griezmann threatened to pinch an equaliser, but it was in fact the hosts who re-established their two-goal cushion, Kostas Mitroglou lashing past Jan Oblak on 73 minutes to break his ten-month barren spell in the final third.

There was still further drama in store though, with Griezmann setting up a thrilling finale by getting the goal his efforts merited with four minutes of normal time remaining.

But Olympiacos held on in spite of heavy Atletico pressure, enabling Miguel’s troops to commence their Champions League term with three important points on the board.

Their second fixture away at Swedish champions Malmo proved a stumbling block, however, as Markus Rosenberg inspired his local club to a 2-0 win courtesy of a goal in each half.

Both sides had chances to take the lead during a physical opening 45 minutes, but it was to be the hosts who edged their noses in front when Rosenberg coverted from close range in the dying stages of the first-half.

Olympiacos rallied after the break and should have pulled level through Jimmy Durmaz and Giannis Maniatis, but Age Hareide's men confirmed the points with eight minutes remaining, Rosenberg finding the top corner to celebrate the return of Champions League football to Sweden in style.

Related Items