Football journalist, AfricaTopSports specialist projecting over the Europa League-2019/20 season 1/8 final game between Wolverhampton and Olympiakos.
The Wolves are hosting Olympiakos for this Europa League 8th final second leg in their stadium this Thursday, 6 August. At first sights, it seems as the British should easily lead the Greeks. But this is just an impression.
Wolverhampton made a big step towards qualifying after obtaining the draw in the first leg match in Greece on 12th March. Even if there was the possibility of winning after the expulsion of the Portuguese Semedo at 1/2 hour game. The Portuguese defender, as well as the Algerian midfielder Soudani, will miss the call at Molineux Stadium for this second leg. In the Premier League, Nuno Espirito Santo’s players missed the last qualifying spot for Europe by finishing 7th only in the final after their last loss on the Chelsea field (2-0).
Olympiakos, champion of Greece, is on a series of 3 wins in a row on the field of FC OFI (3-1) and against AEK Athens (3-0) in league and then ahead of Omonia Nicosia (3-0) in friendly on 29 July. Olympiakos started the season in the Champions League. But could not get a ticket to the 1/8th final after taking only 4 points in 6 games. Piraeus players ranked behind Bayern Munich and Tottenham but ahead of Red Star Belgrade.
After being defeated in the Europa League, Mathieu Valbuena’s partners overthrew Arsenal (1-2) after losing at home in the first leg (0-1). The red and white team is getting quite old (although Wolverhampton is the same). But it remains an experienced team with Portugal’s Pedro Martins at the helm. Valbuena, 35, and El Arabi, 33. The Greeks signed the Moroccan who played in Qatar and has become free-lance player last summer. For this 3rd English trip, the task is very complicated for a feverish Olympiakos team on the move.
I guess nothing so serious will happen here. At least in the first hour of the game. Both teams prefer to be number two. In the first half, the Greeks will defend with great strength. But in the second, they will have to take initiatives (the match in Piraeus ended with a draw 1:1), and the game can open. I bet in the first half there will be fewer goals than in the second for 2.00 in 1xBet.