Another level, Atalanta but also Olympiakos wasn’t what it should be

One did not wait for the rematch between Olympiacos and Atalanta to see the difference in the level of the Greek championship with the Italian and in general with the top 5 or 6 in Europe. When the Greek champions don’t counterattack and follow the rhythm and pace of a side that’s solid inside the top four in the Italian league but doesn’t have the heaviest jersey in Europe, they realize the problem is important.

Atalanta were the favorites to qualify for the Europa League 16 from the start and confirmed this in the two games with Olympiakos. The Italian side are in the top-25 in the UEFA rankings, have a squad three times the market value of the Red and Whites, moving to another level where Olympiacos has not been able to match this year. The Piraeus team of the last three years was probably luckier because they had different stamina, different runs, different racing philosophy and different efficiency.

Especially in Karaiskakis he seemed inferior to the circumstances

Olympiakos looked inferior in the two games with Atalanta, given the circumstances. And especially in Karaiskaki. The Red-Whites scored in Bergamo (indeed they had opened the scoring), put Atalanta hard for 60 minutes and were defeated by two static stages, again within three minutes. In the second leg, the Piraeus team neither scored nor created any serious chances in front of their fans, on the contrary, conceded three goals and suffered a bitter defeat.

Pedro Martins, who knows his team’s situation better than anyone, insisted on the trio in central defense and the players with the most runs, knowing that the Bergamasques are capable of causing damage at the slightest opportunity. The Italians found a moment with Mele in the first half and scored – with Lala making a mistake in the phase and not chasing the ball into a corner while passing in front of the Danish footballer.

Malinowski foiled Martin’s plans

When the Portuguese coach decided to take a chance, switched the system to 4-3-3, brought in a forward (Masoura) and brought out a stopper (Cisse), moving Agibu Kamaras on the axis, he hoped that Olympiacos would would find coveted destination. However, the quality and leadership of Malinowski, who scored two goals in three minutes, thwarted his plans. From then on there was no going back into the game for the Reds and Whites.

Atalanta’s high pressure throughout the game was exemplary. There wasn’t an Olympiacos player who wasn’t tagged, who wasn’t pressured, who was allowed to roll the ball on the turf by making on-field actions. It’s no coincidence that the players of the Piraeus team pass the ball to Vatslik to make the shots, sending it down the midfield. The red and white could not pass the ball vertically on the axis or from the sides. The Bergamaski players were well read and the most important thing is a very well-rehearsed team led by Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been on the bench for 5.5 years.

The two games are a lesson for Olympiakos

Bottom line, Olympiacos’ European adventure is over here, but the two games against Atalanta should be a lesson for Martins, the players and planning for the new season in general.

Now it’s about winning the league and cup and you need to properly manage and use all the potential.