OLYMPIAKOS
Greek champions
Champions League pedigree: Quarter-finals 1998/99
THE LOWDOWN:
National champions in ten out of the last eleven seasons, they have squashed all the domestic competition underfoot, but the Piraeus club have found life considerably harder at the top European level. Absent from the knock-out stages since 1999 when they made the last-eight, only to lose to Juventus. Oh, and don't remind them of the dramatic defeat against Liverpool at Anfield which robbed them of a place in the second round in 2004/05.
In a bid to redress the balance, wholesale changes have been made to the squad. Among the many departures were the Brazilian veteran Rivaldo (to bitter capital city rivals AEK Athens) and the Mexican attacking midfielder Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donetsk), while the new boys include the ex-Portsmouth striker Lomana Lua Lua and ex-Real Madrid defender Raul Bravo.
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Boss Takis Lemonis, appointed in December 2006 for a second spell in charge, divides fan opinion. Some see the former Olympiakos player as someone in tune with their heritage and a safe pair of hands. Others see him as tactically naive and agree with Rivaldo, who once claimed that Greek coaches do not have enough experience to succeed in the Champions League.
Lemonis gained his coaching badge in England and, not surprisingly, likes to use a 4-4-2, in which the key midfield area is staffed by two men holding (Ieroklis Stoltidis and the Argentine Cristian Ledesma) and two linking the play out wide (the Serb Predrag Djordjevic on the left and Argentina's Luciano Galletti on the right).
THE WOW FACTOR:
Their brand new front-line duo of the Argentine Lionel Nunez (ex-Argentinos Junior) and Lua Lua. The latter provides flair and explosiveness in and around the box. Nunez is an excellent dribbler and shoots powerfully. They also boast attacking strength in depth in the form of Kostas Mitroglou, the Serb Darko Kovacevic and Cypriot Michalis Konstantinou.
Another plus is the craft of Djordjevic, the thoughtful, elegant schemer with outstanding crossing ability and set-piece delivery. Unfortunately, he is now 35 and slowing down, while also becoming injury prone.
Olympiakos might not travel well at all, but with their home crowd baying, they are very much a force to be reckoned with, always capable of raising their game.
THE BIG BUY:
An elusive, effervescent right-flank provider recruited from Atletico Madrid this summer, 27-year-old Argentine international Luciano Galletti has also played for Parma and Napoli in Italy and La Liga outfit Real Zaragoza.
It seems he likes to play for clubs wearing red and white stripes, having turned out for Estudiantes de la Plata in his homeland, Atletico Madrid and now Olympiakos.
THE TENDER SPOT:
A ponderous central defence has proved a weak link for some time and the problem does not seem to have been solved by the signing of Paraskevas Antzas (ex-Xanthi) and Real Madrid's Raul Bravo, who can also play left-back. A solid rearguard is of paramount importance in this competition and the naked truth is that Olympiakos do not possess one.
Performing for a full 90 minutes can be difficult. In the Champions League they have a history of looking good for nine-tenths of a game, then self-destructing with a lapse in concentration.
HOT GOSSIP:
Club president Socrates Kokkalis and his board came in for much criticism for allowing the team's two most gifted creators, Rivaldo and Nery Castillo to head for the exit. Should the season not pan out well, expect the mood among the fans to turn nasty.
Star names such as Chelsea enforcer Claude Makelele and Argentine playmaker Juan Riquelme were linked with a move to Piraeu during the summer, but ultimately, it was just smoke and mirrors and the failure to land experienced additions will cost them in the Champions League.
IDEAL LINE UP:
Nikopolidis, Zewlakow, Bravo, Antzas, Torosidis, Ledesma, Stoltidis, Djordjevic, Galletti, Nunez, Lua Lua
THE VERDICT:
Quite simply, they don't have enough individual talent or collective cohesion to sustain them beyond Christmas. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Greek champions
Champions League pedigree: Quarter-finals 1998/99
THE LOWDOWN:
National champions in ten out of the last eleven seasons, they have squashed all the domestic competition underfoot, but the Piraeus club have found life considerably harder at the top European level. Absent from the knock-out stages since 1999 when they made the last-eight, only to lose to Juventus. Oh, and don't remind them of the dramatic defeat against Liverpool at Anfield which robbed them of a place in the second round in 2004/05.
In a bid to redress the balance, wholesale changes have been made to the squad. Among the many departures were the Brazilian veteran Rivaldo (to bitter capital city rivals AEK Athens) and the Mexican attacking midfielder Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donetsk), while the new boys include the ex-Portsmouth striker Lomana Lua Lua and ex-Real Madrid defender Raul Bravo.
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Boss Takis Lemonis, appointed in December 2006 for a second spell in charge, divides fan opinion. Some see the former Olympiakos player as someone in tune with their heritage and a safe pair of hands. Others see him as tactically naive and agree with Rivaldo, who once claimed that Greek coaches do not have enough experience to succeed in the Champions League.
Lemonis gained his coaching badge in England and, not surprisingly, likes to use a 4-4-2, in which the key midfield area is staffed by two men holding (Ieroklis Stoltidis and the Argentine Cristian Ledesma) and two linking the play out wide (the Serb Predrag Djordjevic on the left and Argentina's Luciano Galletti on the right).
THE WOW FACTOR:
Their brand new front-line duo of the Argentine Lionel Nunez (ex-Argentinos Junior) and Lua Lua. The latter provides flair and explosiveness in and around the box. Nunez is an excellent dribbler and shoots powerfully. They also boast attacking strength in depth in the form of Kostas Mitroglou, the Serb Darko Kovacevic and Cypriot Michalis Konstantinou.
Another plus is the craft of Djordjevic, the thoughtful, elegant schemer with outstanding crossing ability and set-piece delivery. Unfortunately, he is now 35 and slowing down, while also becoming injury prone.
Olympiakos might not travel well at all, but with their home crowd baying, they are very much a force to be reckoned with, always capable of raising their game.
THE BIG BUY:
An elusive, effervescent right-flank provider recruited from Atletico Madrid this summer, 27-year-old Argentine international Luciano Galletti has also played for Parma and Napoli in Italy and La Liga outfit Real Zaragoza.
It seems he likes to play for clubs wearing red and white stripes, having turned out for Estudiantes de la Plata in his homeland, Atletico Madrid and now Olympiakos.
THE TENDER SPOT:
A ponderous central defence has proved a weak link for some time and the problem does not seem to have been solved by the signing of Paraskevas Antzas (ex-Xanthi) and Real Madrid's Raul Bravo, who can also play left-back. A solid rearguard is of paramount importance in this competition and the naked truth is that Olympiakos do not possess one.
Performing for a full 90 minutes can be difficult. In the Champions League they have a history of looking good for nine-tenths of a game, then self-destructing with a lapse in concentration.
HOT GOSSIP:
Club president Socrates Kokkalis and his board came in for much criticism for allowing the team's two most gifted creators, Rivaldo and Nery Castillo to head for the exit. Should the season not pan out well, expect the mood among the fans to turn nasty.
Star names such as Chelsea enforcer Claude Makelele and Argentine playmaker Juan Riquelme were linked with a move to Piraeu during the summer, but ultimately, it was just smoke and mirrors and the failure to land experienced additions will cost them in the Champions League.
IDEAL LINE UP:
Nikopolidis, Zewlakow, Bravo, Antzas, Torosidis, Ledesma, Stoltidis, Djordjevic, Galletti, Nunez, Lua Lua
THE VERDICT:
Quite simply, they don't have enough individual talent or collective cohesion to sustain them beyond Christmas. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.
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