Costas Manolas and Socrates Papastathopoulos are in the news of Olympiacos, on the one hand for their very good performance in beating AEK in Karaiskakis and on the other hand in view of the first crucial game against Atalanta in Bergamo / 17 22: 00, COSMOTE SPORTS 2 HD and LIVE by Sportish) in the Europa League barrage.

The two Greek centre-backs, along with Jan Embilas, were Olympiacos’ best-performing players in the derby with Union, but they also have a different crowd. All three have played in Serie A. Some more, some less and some less.

The good image and cooperation of Manolas and Papastathopoulos in the center of Olympiacos defense came at the right time, some twenty-four hours before the Bergamaski game. The quality and experience of the two Greek stoppers from the Italian championship will play a crucial role in the two games against Atalanta, played against the backdrop of the 16 of the tournament.

According to reports, Manolas and Papastathopoulos have already given initial advice to their team-mates and the former in particular has fresher memories as he was still playing at Napoli until two months ago. The Naxian centre-back has a complete picture of Atalanta, while the Kalamata stopper knows Italian team coach Gian Piero Gasperini very well.

The former has played ten times against Atalanta with Roma and Napoli and has 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses. The 30-year-old footballer has played 7.5 years in Italian stadiums, five of them at Giallorossi (206 appearances, 8 goals, 6 assists) and the other two and a half at Partenopei (75 games, 4 goals, 1 assist) and knows his stuff best of all at Olympiakos the style and philosophy of Bergamaski.

In fact, Manolas scored against the Italian team and celebrated a goal for the championship in the 3-3 draw wearing the Roma shirt on August 27, 2018. The Greek ace played with Giallorossi in the matches: Atalanta 1-2 Roma (22/11/2014), Roma – Atalanta 0-2 (29/11/2015), Atalanta – Roma 3-3 (17/4/2016), Atalanta – Roma 2 :1 (20/11/2016), Roma – Atalanta 1:1 (15/04/2017), Atalanta – Roma 0:1 (20/08/2017), Roma – Atalanta 1-2 (06/01/2018), Roma – Atalanta 3:3 (27/08/2018) and Atalanta 3-3 Roma (27/01/2019). And with the Partenopei shirt he played in the match Napoli – Atalanta 4-1 (10/17/2020).

For his part, Papastathopoulos is unbeaten against Bergamaski as he has 2 wins and 3 draws. The experienced stopper played in three matches of the Italian championship: Genoa – Atalanta 1:1 (14/12/2008), Atalanta – Genoa 1:1 (10/05/2009) and Atalanta – Genoa 0:1 (30/08/2009). / 2009). In two other games in the knockout stages of the Europa League: Borussia Dortmund – Atalanta 3: 2 (15.2.2018) and Atalanta – Borussia Dortmund 1: 1 (22.2.2018).

However, the most important thing in the case of Papastathopoulos is that he knows the mindset of Gian Piero Gasperini very well as they worked together in Genoa in 2008-10.

The latter was the one who had awarded the Greek ace’s talent and proposed his acquisition by AEK to the management of the Genoa team. The strong centre-back made 59 appearances (2 goals, 2 assists) under the Italian coach before moving to Milan.

Jan Embillas played for Inter for six months in the 2014/15 season (on loan from Rubin Kazan) and featured in the Nerazzurri’s 2-0 win over Atalanta on 24 September 2014.

In any case, Olympiacos must be different on Thursday. Manolas and Papastathopoulos believe that they and their teammates should put energy and intensity into their game, move at a different pace in relation to the Greek Championship, be fully focused from the first minute to the last, and be very wary of static phases and show passion and determination to achieve the positive result.

The two Greek footballers, and Manolas in particular, will have a chance to say a lot more in their conversations with their teammates over the next 24 hours.

By the way, following a decision by Martins, the Piraeus team will train in Renti and not in Bergamo on Wednesday (16/2) at 11 a.m., on the eve of the game. The Red-Whites will train on Italian soil the day after the game against Atalanta, i.e. on Friday (18/2), in preparation for the away game against Volos on Sunday (20/2).