Olympiacos: The added incentive for Martins and players to win against Antwerp

Olympiakos has a number of motivations (which we have already analyzed in previous texts) in order to achieve with all his might the conquest of three points in Belgium against Antwerp (9/12, 7:45 p.m., COSMOTE SPORT 3 and LIVE from Sportish). Like the possibility of first place in the group and the direct qualification for the “16” of the event, the point balance in a group of Champions League and be Europe Leaguebut also prestige.

But there are additional incentives. For example, the double victories for the first time against two teams (at home and away) in the group stage. If Olympiacos beat Antwerp, it will be the first time, in the presence of Martins, that the Piraeus team will have two away wins in a group by the end of the year and at the same time get the three away wins in Europe December.

In Martins’ first period in Greece (2018-19), the Red-Whites beat Lucerne and Dudelange. In the second (2019-20) they beat Basaksehir and Krasnodar – the victory over Arsenal came in the knockout games in February. On Tuesday (2020-21) the only away win (it wasn’t in the group, but) came against Arsenal, in the “16” phase of the Europa League, in March.

Now, in the Portuguese coach’s fourth season at Olympiakos (2021-22), the Reds are counting away wins over Neftsi Baku and Fenerbahce and have a future ahead of them, because tonight they meet Antwerp and have also secured 10th qualification in European competitions after January for the past 11 years.

Analytically, Martins ‘eight away wins in Europe during Martins’ tenure:

• 30.09.2021, Fenerbahce – Olympiakos: 0-3 (Europa League)
• 28.07.2021, Neftsi Baku – Olympiakos: 0-1 (2nd^ος . Champions League)
• 18.03.2021, Arsenal – Olympiakos: 0: 1 (phase of the “16” of the Europa League)
• 02/27/2020, Arsenal – Olympiakos: 1-2 (phase of the “32” of the Europa League)
• 27.08.2019, Krasnodar – Olympiakos: 1-2 (Champions League play-offs)
• 08.07.2019, Basaksehir – Olympiakos: 0: 1 (2nd qualifying round of the Champions League)
• 25.10.2018, Dudelange – Olympiakos: 0-2 (Europa League)
• 16.08.2018, Luzern – Olympiakos: 1-3 (3rd qualifying round of the Europa League)

From Sideris to Engels

The Piraeus team, who defeated Antwerp 2-1 in the group premiere thanks to Reabciuk’s goal, at 87 ‘, in Karaiskakis, have one victory (3-0 over Anderlecht, with Mitroglou’s hat trick in 2013) and three defeats on Belgian soil (0- 1 and 1-5 from Anderlecht and 0-2 from Standard Liège).

In addition, Olympiakos and Antwerp connect Giorgos Sideris (the first Greek footballer to move abroad in 1970) and Björn Engels, who played on both teams.

Olympiacos have a difficult task against Antwerp and have to do significantly better than in the first game with the Belgians in Neos Faliro to win. Martins sees the “key” in the game for the Piraeus team in being able to open the score first, so that his players can take possession of the ball, are effective in attack, have a good blocking function and the static phases are very careful in the game in defense.