Spanish giants Real Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways when they hit the road to square up against Olympiacos.
Having failed to win any of their four Champions League outings, Olympiacos will be desperate to secure all three points when they host Real Madrid. While the visitors are not in the best of form either, they are certainly favourites for this one.
The home team are 31st in the league with two points in their four outings. The Greek giants were on the verge of securing the three points against PSV in their last European fixture, but an injury-time strike by Ricardo Pepi meant they had to settle for a draw.
The Super League Greece leaders are heading into this fixture on the back of consecutive wins in the league, which will certainly give them a lot of confidence, but going up against Los Blancos is a completely different challenge.
The visitors are seventh on the league table with nine points in their four outings. They had a sensational start, having won their first three outings, but suffered a defeat at the hands of Liverpool last time out.
Since losing to the Merseyside club, Real Madrid have failed to win their last two league outings. Things have slowly started crumbling for Xabi Alonso’s team, and they will be desperate for a win here to get things back on track. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Olympiacos
The home team will remain without the services of Alexandros Paschalakis and Konstantinos Angelakis due to injury. Apart from the duo, everyone else should be available for selection.
Olympiacos will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Konstantinos Tzolakis will be in goal. Rodinei and Francisco Ortega will be the full-backs, while Panagiotis Retsos will start alongside Lorenzo Pirola in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Dani Garcia will pair up with Christos Mouzakitis. The duo will shield the backline and look to ensure Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Gelson Martins and Daniel Podence will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Chiquinho will take up the number ten role behind Ayoub El Kaabi, who will be spearheading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Mouzakitis; Martins, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi
Olympiacos vs Real Madrid Predicted XI
Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso will remain without the services of Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Franco Mastantuono. Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba’s availability is also a major doubt.
Los Blancos could line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras should be the full-backs, while Raul Asencio should pair up with Dean Huijsen in central defence.
In the centre of the park, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde should return to the starting XI and partner with Arda Guler.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham will feature in the number ten role, while Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe should lead the line for the team in white.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Guler; Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius
Olympiacos vs Real Madrid Predicted XI
Key Stats
Real Madrid have won four out of their eight games against Olympiacos, who have won three of those meetings.
The Spanish giants have never won an away game against the Greek giants.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since November 2007.
Olympiacos have been unbeaten in their last nine European home games.
In six out of Real Madrid’s last seven games against Greek opposition, both teams have found the back of the net.
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior
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The Brazilian international once again started on the bench for Real Madrid in their last outing, which has sparked fresh speculation about his future at the club. The 25-year-old is expected to return to the starting XI here, and he will be looking to make a statement with his performance.
While Vinicius has nine goal contributions in his 13 league outings, he is yet to find the back of the net in the Champions League. Real Madrid’s number 7 will be desperate to get on the scoresheet and, more importantly, help his team return to winning ways.
Prediction
Olympiacos 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid travel to Greece under pressure, having gone three games without a win across competitions and seeing their early-season momentum stall. Los Blancos are expected to dominate possession and create sustained pressure in the final third.
Olympiacos, however, will not make it easy. The Greek giants may be winless in the Champions League, but they have been excellent at home in Europe and arrive in good domestic form after back-to-back league wins.
Their attacking quartet of Podence, Martins, Chiquinho and El Kaabi has the ability to trouble a Real Madrid defence hit hard by injuries. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the away team.