Following their big European night in Marseille, Olympiacos must quickly return to the reality of the Stoiximan Super League. The “Red-and-Whites” face tomorrow’s away match against Panetolikos in Agrinio, with very little time to prepare. The team returned from France with a crucial away win under their belt, and Imanol Alguacil must now manage his players’ fatigue and decide whether he needs tomake changes to the starting lineup.
In essence, preparations for the Agrinio match are taking place with a “scaled-back” training session, as the demanding schedule leaves no room for a normal training routine. The main priority for the coaching staff is to assess the condition of the players who were most heavily taxed in Marseille and to keep the team fresh, without losing the competitive momentum that has been built up recently.
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At the same time, the elements that Al-Ghuathil wants to instill in Olympiacos have become increasingly evident in recent games. The Piraeus side is attempting to combine pressure and quick transitions with greater patience when in possession, better ball movement, and proper spacing between the lines. Both against Panathinaikos and Marseille, the first “hints” of this approach, with the goal of helping the team gain more control over its games without losing its intensity and speed.
In Agrinio, however, Olympiacos won’t be alone. The tickets made available to the “red-and-whites’” fans sold out, with the fans once again demonstrating their support in practice following the team’s recent positive results.
*photo source: AP
