Panserraikos 0-1 Olympiacos: El Arabi provided the solution and the red and whites are just a breath away from the top

Olympiacos passed on Serres and Carlos Carvalhal scored 2/2 in his first games on the bench for the red and whites. Piraeus defeated Panserraikos 1-0 on Matchday 14 of the Stoiximan Super League and was one breath away from the top spot.

Olympiacos had the most moves, possession and chances of the game. Panserraikos defended and the Red and Whites found the solution in the 65th minute with a precise penalty from Arabi, which Masouras won.

Thus, in the overall standings, Olympiacos has caught up with AEK and Panathinaikos, who went astray, to 31 points and is -1 behind leaders PAOK. With 13 points and in 11th place, Serrai.

The match

After the first five minutes of the game, Olympiakos Piraeus had possession of the ball. He circulated and tried to get into the area of ​​Panserraikos, who lined up with a trio in the center of the defense and whose main concern was to protect the rearguard.

Panserraikos had their only chance of the first half in the 13th minute when Bairovics made a header that was blocked by Paschalakis. The Red and Whites threatened in the 28th minute with Fortounis, whose shot was stopped by the bodies while his subsequent free kick went wide.

Olympiacos had the best moment of the first half in the 37th minute. Fortounis stormed into the penalty area from the left, El Kaabi grabbed the header from the height of the small penalty area, but sent it high out. The red and whites remained stubborn, Panserraikos tried to absorb the pressure and it remained 0-0 until the end of the 45th minute.

The picture has not changed compared to the first part. Olympiacos had possession, moved and looked for an opportunity to break through Panserraikos’ defense. The Red and Whites missed a great chance in the 54th minute when Pontense missed from close range.

Carvalhal wanted to make his team more attacking by placing Arabi next to Kaambi. In the 62nd minute, against the flow of the game, Serraia missed the chance to take the lead as Sofiano and Hatzistravos were unable to score. Immediately afterwards, Olympiacos Piraeus found an empty space, but Masouras missed from a four-man position.

Olympiacos managed to find a solution. Masouras fell into the penalty area after a cross from Deligiannidis from the left and the referee awarded a penalty. Arabi took the lead, sent Hovan to the other side and scored the first goal in the 65th minute of the game.

Of course, the game became a bit more open after that, Panserraikos got higher, but couldn’t react effectively. Olympiacos found more space and could have scored a second time in the 89th minute.

Arabi ran over Hovan, went past him, crossed but was blocked by Thymianis before the ball went through. Olympiakos Piraeus won the double in the home game of Panserraikos and only narrowly came close to first place in the league.

• PANSERRAIC: Hovan, Avlonitis, Bergstrom, Thimianis, Deligiannidis, Peleas (46′ Thomas), Ouedraogo (79′ Moreira), Staikos, Hatzistravos, Masaripov (69′ Mourgos), Bairovics (46′ Sofianos).
• OLYMPIC: Paschalakis, Rodinei, Doi, Biancon, Ortega, Ese, Kamara, Pontense (61′ Arabi), Fortounis (90′ Alexandropoulos), Masouras (90′ Richards), El Kaabi (81′ Biel).