Olympiacos went into the league break with the best possible result, even though it had to wait until stoppage time to come away with a win from Livadia.
Imanol Alguacil’s team did not play well against Levadiakos, but Saliakas, in the 90’+2’ minute, following a cross from Froiler, secured the valuable 1-0 victory and prevented another loss of points before the break.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Stoiximan Super League: Atromitos vs. AEK Postponed
The three-week break from competitive action presents a significant opportunity for Coach Vasco to work on the weaknesses he has identified and to further instill his own playing philosophy. Olympiacos is a team that is still “under construction,” and Alguacil needs time to bring his players together, improve the team’s performance, and incorporate the tactical elements he wants without the pressure of back-to-back matches.
However, this work won’t take place with a full squad at Renti, as several players will be absent due to their commitments with their national teams. Popovic, Pedersen, Smaljovic, Tiknizian, Bruno, Retsos, Saliakas, Puerta, Froiler, Filis, Gonzalez, Belli, and Yaremchuk will be absent, with Puerta, Gonzalez, and Belli also facing long trips ahead to Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica, respectively.
Alguacil will still have at his disposal, among others, Ortega, Stournaras, Pirolá, Ese, García, Sipioni, Sa, Fortounis, Zelsson, Chikino, Roca, Bakoulas, Zota Silva, Clayton, and Marius.
The break provides much-needed rest, as the schedule immediately becomes particularly demanding upon returning to action. When the Stoiximan Super League resumes, Olympiacos will host Panathinaikos for Matchday 6, in a derby that will serve as the first major test following the training sessions of the coming weeks. This will be followed by a trip to Marseille and, immediately afterward, an away match in Agrinio, a stretch that will reveal how much of what Al-Ghawathil wants to implement has begun to show in the “Red-and-Whites’” play.
*photo source: KYPE
