On Wednesday night, at 17:55, Manchester City can take the decisive step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, with a victory on the field of Olympiacos. The guests come after a stinging defeat in front of Tottenham, in the championship, but they have a big stake in Europe. Instead, the Greeks know that they will not have a better chance than on Tuesday, for a huge surprise in the group.
Olympiacos lost in the round with 0-3 and now they play their last chance to reach another qualifying place. The Greeks have 3 points, three “lengths” behind FC Porto, which is in second place. Therefore, City has the maximum score after three stages, while the Lusitanians (goal average 6-3) and the Greeks (goal average 1-5) shoot for the last qualifying position. Marseille cannot enter the calculations, after losing the first three stages of the group, without shining (goal difference 0-7). So, it’s a game of all or nothing for the hosts.
Olympiacos comes after a victory with Panathinaikos, in a tough derby played internally, won by the white-reds with 1-0. It was the third victory to zero in the last four matches for Olympiacos, a team full of experienced players, who will not have a trace in front of the “citizens”. Instead, City comes after a draw with Liverpool (1-1) and the defeat with Tottenham (0-2), and the reconstruction set up by Pep Guardiola does not go according to plan. Without Aguero in attack and with Sterling on the bench, the English offensive always seems uninspired.
Not even the presence in the middle of some footballers like Bernardo Silva or Kevin De Bruyne does not seem to help those from City, who ended up having a predictable passing game, in the Premier League. However, at the European level, the band on the Etihad remains a force that should impose its game in Greece. The hosts have significant batch problems, with the injured El Arabi, Valbuena, Bruma, Holebas and Vinagre – notable absences.
Of these, it is possible that the white-reds will recover at least two of the stars at the last minute! However, Olympiacos hopes that the inspiration of the Egyptian Koka (4 goals in the last 4 matches played at home) will be decisive. In the guest camp we will keep an eye on the achievements of Ferran Torres, Ryiad Mahrez and Phil Foden. There is a difference in caliber that should be more important than any statistic here.
Olympiacos (4-3-3): Jose Sa, Rafinha, Ruben Semedo, Pape Abou Cisse, Jose Holebas, Mady Camara, Yann M’Vila, Andreas Bouchalakis, Lazar Randelovic, Hillal Soudani, Kostas Fortounis
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson Moraes, Joao Cancelo, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Raheem Sterling
Olympiacos has not drawn in 7 consecutive official matches;
At home, Olympiacos has only two defeats in the last 16 games played;
However, Olympiacos won only one duel at home, out of the last 5 played against the English;
In 6 of the last 7 games played at home by Olympiacos, it went 0-0 at the break;
In 15 of the last 16 games played by Olympiacos, he scored at most one of the teams;
In 14 of the last 16 games played by Olympiacos, only one of the teams scored (0-0);
In 3 of Man’s last 4 official matches. City scored less than three goals;
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,63
