Olympiacos’ preparations are entering the final stretch ahead of tomorrow’s big derby against PAOK, for Matchday 10 of the Stoiximan Super League, with Imanol Alguacil still keeping several options open regarding his starting lineup.
The Basque coach is expected to make his final decision on the lineup during the last training session, having gathered valuable insights from the 0-0 draw against Rennes in Europe.
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The approach taken in France clearly had the derby in the back of Alguacil’s mind. Players such as Zota Silva and Roca were given a breather and have a strong chance of making the starting lineup, while the Olympiacos coach may even make a surprise selection.
Kostas Fortounis put in a very good performance in France, while Bailey also saw significant playing time, meaning there are still plenty of options for the attacking midfield.
In central midfield, the Ese-Puerta duo made a good impression against Rennes, however, in Greek league matches, Froiler has been a consistent mainstay and is highly likely to return to the starting lineup.
On defense, Ortega is expected to be in goal, while Retsos remains the frontrunner for the center-back position. Pirolá is vying for a spot alongside him, while there are more question marks on the wings, with Pedersen being one of the options on the right and Tiknizian holding the edge on the other side.
In the attacking midfield, Chikino is expected to play a playmaking role, while the wing positions remain up in the air until the final practice. Similarly, up front, Alguathil must choose among his available options, though he has not yet revealed his final decisions.
Particular emphasis has also been placed on set pieces, an aspect that could prove decisive in a derby where the details often make the difference.
Olympiacos has already scored five goals from set pieces over the past two months, a fact that highlights the work being done in this area. Al-Ghuathil insists on perfecting free kicks and corner kicks, knowing that against PAOK, such situations can provide the breakthrough when the game is tightly contested.
*photo source: KYPE
