Olympiacos is entering the final stretch before Sunday’s big derby against Panathinaikos, for Matchday 6 of the Stoiximan Super League. The international players are gradually returning to Renti, and Imanol Alguacil is seeing his roster fill up, now able to work more specifically on the starting lineup and the tactics he intends to employ. The good news for the coaching staff is that so far no serious issues have arisen from the national teams, with the players’ fatigue being the key factor to be evaluated.
One of the issues concerning the Spanish coach is the center of the defense. Panagiotis Retsos has a clear lead for a spot in the starting lineup, but who will play alongside him remains under consideration. The final training sessions will play a decisive role, as Alguacil wants a defensive pairing that will provide stability during transitions, a good first pass, and the ability to handle the pressure from Panathinaikos.
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At the same time, the Olympiacos coach has been working in recent days on a different tactical scenario, with greater reinforcement in the midfield and a formation that can shift to a 4-1-4-1 during the game. The idea is to win the battle in midfield, limit Panathinaikos’ ability to attack vertically, and at the same time ensure that the “Red-and-Whites” have more players near the ball when they go on the attack. This is an approach that has been tested in training, though it is not yet a given that it will be implemented from the very first minute.
Final decisions will be made once the international players have returned and the physical condition of all available players is clear. Al-Ghuathil wants to have as many options as possible, both for the starting lineup and for substitutions during the match, knowing that a derby of this caliber can come down to the smallest details. For Olympiacos, then, the upcoming training sessions at Renti will be crucial in determining the final lineup the team will field against Panathinaikos.
*photo source: AP
