Olympiacos bowed out of the UEFA Champions League after a 0-0 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen, with all the damage done in the first leg in Piraeus.
No urgent autopsy is needed from the BayArena, as Patrik Schick’s clinical double in Karaiskakis proved decisive in a highly competitive knockout tie. Thrylos, and certainly their incessantly supportive travelling fans, can hold their heads high after a commendable showing in Europe’s premier competition this season.
Jose Luis Mendilibar clearly realised that something was seriously wrong with his side’s set-up in the first leg.
It was obvious that Ayoub El Kaabi and Mehdi Taremi could not work together against a press-resistant Bayer Leverkusen side. But dropping the Moroccan instead of the Iranian certainly raised some eyebrows.
Even more astonishing was the unexplained absence of Daniel Podence from the travelling squad and his replacement being defensive midfielder Dani Garcia. No doubt those in Leverkusen were not expecting what looked like a 4-3-3 on paper.
In reality, Santiago Hezze was pushed further forward to form a much more familiar 4-2-3-1, with Chiquinho to the left and Gelson Martins to the right.
Theoretically, at least, the Argentinian midfielder had the tactical nous, youthful energy and game intelligence to prove effective in the Mendilibar press.
But Bayer Leverkusen stretched their 5-at-the-back system to its widest limits in build-up and were exceedingly at ease playing through or over the advancing visitors more often than not. And even when Olympiacos did win the ball high up, with a dead-eye striker and an effervescent winger missing, the visitors were toothless in those situations.
Ultimately, Mendilibar’s men did not create enough to trouble their German hosts. Defensively they impressed, keeping a second clean sheet in their third encounter with Leverkusen this campaign.
Unfortunately, it was in attack where Olympiacos were found wanting.
Kostas Tzolakis (GK) – 6
Had precious little to do, but saved well from Jonas Hofmann to prevent a fatal 3-0 aggregate score in the fourth minute. Distribution was adequate.
Rodinei (RB) – 6
Rodinei provided decent deliveries as Olympiacos fans have come to expect, and the Brazilian eventually found a way to include Martins in the game.
In no man’s land when opposite number Alex Grimaldo ghosted in to cannon a thunderbolt off Tzolakis’ crossbar on the hour mark.
Francisco Ortega (LB) – 6
Energetic but largely ineffective in possession. Mercifully solid at the back.
Panos Retsos (CB) – 8
Made vital sliding clearances in the 10th minute and again in the 81st, fantastic harrying to snuff out a chance in the 17th. The Greek was always proactive, consistently front-foot and aggressive. Composed and decisive on the ball.
If it wasn’t for Retsos, Olympiacos would have surely lost in Leverkusen.
Lorenzo Pirola (CB) – 7
Allowed Patrik Schick far too much space in the opening stages. Recovered well though and was brave when he needed to be.
Christos Mouzakitis (CM) – 7
The 19-year-old’s range of passing continues to astound. For such a diminutive figure, Mouzakitis really can spray it wherever he likes. The Greek sometimes tried to force it, but to be honest, someone needed to.
Unfortunately faded as the second-half progressed and was wisely substituted.
Dani Garcia (CM) – 6
Industrious and aggressive, Garcia, along with Mouzakitis, kept the ball moving with zip in the first period. But the 35-year-old was guilty of being careless in possession at times as the game wore on.
Santiago Hezze (CAM) – 5
I don’t think the advanced role suited Hezze, even if the Argentinian did not have a poor game by any means. He was simply the wrong man in the wrong position and went missing as a result.
Why didn’t Mendilibar opt for a natural winger to replace Podence, shift Chiquinho central and Hezze back from the very start?
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Gelson Martins (RW) – 8
Martins struggled to get involved in the first 30 minutes, but grew into the first-half when service was eventually provided.
From then on, the winger was by far the best Olympiacos player at beating his man and looked the most likely to create in a team desperately short on magic.
Crashed a fantastic half-volley into the diving gloves of Janis Blaswich soon after the interval, the closest Thrylos came to breaching the German’s net.
Chiquinho (LW) – 5
With tidy touches and neat passes, Chiquinho was occasionally the glue that prevented a semi-disjointed attack from falling apart.
He struggled to make any sort of meaningful impact, however. The Portuguese is definitively not a winger.
Mehdi Taremi (CF) – 4
The Iranian never got up to speed, often the sloppy broken link in counter-pressing situations.
Got no joy whatsoever in a very physical battle with the Leverkusen backline and failed to hold up the ball on a night where holding up the ball would have been greatly appreciated.
Rightly replaced with 25 minutes remaining.
SUBSTITUTES
66′ Ayoub El Kaabi (CF) – 6
Was not given enough service (or enough minutes).
66′ Andre Luiz (RW) – 6
Came on and offered more conventional threat than the out-of-position Chiquinho. His final ball was sorely lacking though.
I know the January signing has not set the world alight since his arrival, but as the only other available winger in the squad, why didn’t he start?
79′ Lorenzo Scipioni (CM) – 6
Provided legs and a fierce late strike that, for a minute, you thought might flash into the net.
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