Podense returns to face Backa Topola, Jovetic arrives from week

Carlos Carvalhal falls straight into the depths for Olympiacos as he will make his debut on the bench for the final matchday of the European Championship on Thursday (12/14, 10:00 p.m., COSMOTE SPORT5HD, LIVE Sportish) in the “final” against Backa Topola. League groups in which qualification for the knockout games of the Conference League is decided.

With a win or a draw in the fully occupied “G. Karaiskakis” the qualification ticket and the Portuguese coach wants his start in front of the red and white fans to be positive and convincing. He hoped to have all the footballers available, but the reality is that he is faced with some problems.

Podense is still suffering from the ankle sprain (kicked by Sildia) against Freiburg in Germany (30/11), where he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, but is preparing to return to training and is expected to play with the Serbian team be available . For now, however, everything is still open.

Jovetic left Olympiakos’ final training session in Germany on the eve of the game against Freiburg with an adductor contusion and is expected to start training in a week. However, at the moment his presence even in the 20-man squad for the game against Bacska Topola is extremely doubtful. The odds are currently not in his favor.

Except Scarpa, Freire and Poroso

Scarpa, Freire and Poroso will be out of service and, according to the latest information, will be available after Christmas.

The Brazilian striker is suffering from a knee injury and will be out of action for a month in just a few 24 hours (he last played on December 11th in the away game against Asteras Tripoli).

The Argentine central defender suffered a bruise in the game against PAS Ioannina (1/10), suffered a relapse twice in training with Rentis when he tried to return and has already been out of action for around 2.5 months and will have the three months until his return complete.

And the central defender from Ecuador returned from London and the game against West Ham (9/11) with a knee injury, he is out of action for a month and needs another two weeks to return to Olympiakos.

Regarding the game against Backa Topola, it is recalled that Biancone and Brinic are not on the European list and do not have the right to participate. Therefore, Carvalhal’s options before the game with the Serbian team are concrete.

It remains to be seen whether he will stick to the same system (4-4-2) that Martinez mainly uses in training over the next 24 hours or whether he will opt for something different.