Olympiacos, Benfica ready to rekindle rivalry in Piraeus

By: Peter Katsiris | November 27th, 2008

Olympiacos and Benfica will meet for the first time in twenty-five years on Thursday, as both clubs lock horns at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium for match-day three of the UEFA Cup group stages. With both clubs holding winless records to date, the need for a win is present in both camps.

Weak Start
The Greek Champions started their UEFA Cup group stage campaign against Aegean rivals Galatasaray in Istanbul. The Turkish Champions slipped past their Greek counterparts with a 1-0 win courtesy of Harry Kewell; leaving Olympiacos with the stinging feeling of defeat. The buzz of defeat couldn’t be diminished on match-day two, as Olympiacos was given the day off — a reality with an uneven number of teams in each group.

Benfica has not enjoyed a day off thus far, rather two dismal performances leave ‘As Águias’ with just one point. On match-day one the Liga side travelled to Berlin, where Marko Pantelic assured the spoils between Hertha Berlin and Benfica would be shared at 1-1. A fortnight later and Benfica returned home to host Galatasaray. A second half brace from the Turks left Benfica on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line at the Estádio da Luz.

Old Ties
With four meetings to date, Thursday night’s match will mark the fifth time both sides encounter each other in competitive European fixtures. The Portuguese side hold the upper hand over time, with Benfica winning three of the four matches to date.

In two visits to Greece, Benfica have split the spoils with their Greek hosts. Both sides have triumphed 1-0 in Piraeus, in a Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium which was eventually remodelled.

Olympiacos Optimism
The path to full points in Piraeus will be a bumpy road for both clubs, with injuries being just a sample of the factors facing both clubs. Fortunes could, however, favour Olympiacos who triumphed in Thessaloniki with a 3-0 win against Iraklis at the Kaftanzogleio Stadium on Saturday. It was a night of spectacular goals for ‘O Thrylos’, with two volleys and a long ranged strike providing markers on the scoreboard for the Greek giants.

Despite domestic dominance for well over a decade now, the club has never prospered in Europe. Ernesto Valverde will be hoping his side will reproduce their clinical performance from the weekend against Benfica on Thursday. The Spaniard was somewhat blindfolded in his first game in charge of the Super League titleholders, as pain in Cyprus was compounded by an early Champions League exit less than a fortnight later.

The tide has turned by now, and Olympiacos has lifted its spirits since their nightmare in Nicosia; however, the test they will face tonight will be a unique experience for a side slowly growing with confidence.

Benfica Trouble
For Benfica, they find their domestic campaign to not be as triumphant as their Thursday night hosts, but plan to mark their success with a victory in one of Greece’s cathedrals of football. Just one point behind Liga leaders Leixoes, Benfica has strung four consecutive wins in their last quartet of domestic matches. Furthermore, Benfica has yet to lose this season in Portugal; but the streak has not transferred into the UEFA Cup.

With an experienced coach at the reins of the Portuguese powerhouse, Benfica looks set to conquer Europe. Quique Sanchez Flores has had successful stints at major European clubs, with the most recent tenure coming with neighbouring Spain’s Valencia. Time with his new club has been limited, but the Spaniard has the same aspirations as his counterpart at the other set of touchlines.

Injury Plagued
With victory not a hurdle too high for Benfica, it seems another factor is holding them back this season. Injuries have plagued the Portuguese side through the early stages, and the plaguing will continue in Piraeus on Thursday. Angel Di Maria, and patriot Pablo Aimar have been left off the roster due to nagging injuries keeping the Argentinian pair from full fitness. Additionally, Benfica will be without the services of its captain as Luisao has also been left off the roster due to injury.

The hosts are not as hard hit by injuries, but manager Valverde will be without a long list of defenders including Vasilis Torosidis, and Leonardo. Luciano Galletti, Didier Domi, and Christos Patsatzoglou have been taken off the roster, and are to take part in a line-up likely to resemble the formation used on Saturday. Ieroklis Stoltidis continues to sit on the sidelines, as his absence continues to topple over a month.

Makeshift Squad
Despite the absences from the squad, Benfica still poses a heavy threat to Olympiacos’ goal. The presence of Inter Milan loanee, David Suazo, will be heavily monitored by the Olympiacos defense.

Prolific Benfica striker, Nuno Gomes, the face of Benfica in recent years, will likely take his role in attack alongside Suazo.

In the midfield, a familiar face will make his second visit to Karaiskakis in just over a week, as Kostas Katsouranis anchors the Benfica midfield. The Greece international has enjoyed plenty of success during his visits with the Greek National Team, and his former club AEK Athens. The former member of the ‘Dikefale’ will expectedly partner up with Jose Antonio Reyes, Hassan Yebda, and Carlos Martins.

Defense could be the worrying point for the visitors, as Flores will likely struggle to find an equivalent replacement for the injured Luisao. Nonetheless, there will be plenty of cover for Benfica with the likes of Jorge Ribeiro, Sidnei, and Maxi Pereira; while David Luiz or Miguel Vitor will likely fill-in for the Benfica captain.

In goal, Quim will have the duty of guarding the Benfica goal. The Portuguese shot stopper will likely be kept busy, with Olympiacos posing a large offensive threat in front of the loyal Olympiacos supporters.

Familiar Formation
With a successful result on Saturday producing plenty of opportunities, as well as goals, Olympiacos is likely to line-up in the same formation; hoping for the same results on Thursday.

With that being said, Brazilian starlet Diogo will likely lead the charge in attack. In a pre-match press conference, the Brazilian was more than determined to finally live up to his summer transfer hype.

Leading the midfield, but playing just behind the Brazilian, Fernando Belluschi will expectedly take his role in the attacking region of the midfield. The flanks will be run by MVP-to-date Luciano Galletti; while club captain, Predrag Djordjevic, does the same on the opposite wing. Just behind the dynamic duo, Christos Patsatzoglou will play in the supporting role. To his assistance, Brazilian Dudu will partner up with the Greece international just ahead of the Olympiacos back line.

It may not be the last line of defense, but the Olympiacos back four will need to be sharp on Thursday. With Torosidis failing to reach full fitness ahead of the match, the experienced Anastasios PAntos will provide cover for the Greece international. The opposite wing of the defense will be guarded by Domi, who narrowly made the roster after picking up a nagging injury on the weekend. The core of the defense will see a Greek pair provide a blockade, as Paraskevas Antzas and Avraam Papadopoulos are likely to block Benfica’s offensive surges.

Veteran goalkeeper, Antonis Nikopolidis, will assume his usual role between the posts. The former Greece international needed to produce key saves on Saturday, but will likely be a little busier when Benfica comes knocking.

Olympiacos CFP (Ernesto Valverde):
Goalkeepers – Antonis Nikopolidis, Pavel Kovac.
Defenders – Anastasios Pantos, Avraam Papadopoulos, Paraskevas Antzas, Michal Zewlakow, Didier Domi, Giorgos Galitsios.
Midfielders – Sebastian Leto, Predrag Djordjevic, Fernando Belluschi, Dudu, Christos Patsatzoglou, Luciano Galletti, Kostas Mendrinos.
Forwards – Diogo, Darko Kovacevic, Oscar.

SL Benfica (Quique Sanchez Flores):
Goalkeepers – Quim, Jose Moreira, Moretto.
Defenders - David Luiz, Sidnei, Miguel Vitor, Maxi Pereira, Jorge Ribeiro.
Midfielders - Kostas Katsouranis, Rocky Balboa, Felipe Bastos, Ruben Amorim, Jonathan Urretavizcaya, Binya, Carlos Martins, Hassan Yebda, Jose Antonio Reyes.
Forwards - Oscar Cardozo, Nuno Gomes, David Suazo.

Time: 21:45 GR
Venue: Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece.
TV: Antenna (Greece); NOVA (Europe); GOL TV (Canada & USA).