OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS

ATLÉTICO MADRID

M. Mandžukić 38'

LIVE COMMENTARY

Commentary Main events

Half time in Piraeus. Olympiakos looked to be in control of the match after twice taking advantage of poor Atletico defending to go 2-0 up after goals from Masuaku and Afellay. However, a quickfire reply from Mandzukic sees us go into the break with a delicately poised scoreline at 2-1. Plenty of fire and bite being showed by both sides, so there's definitely a promising second period in store!
45' + 2'

Yellow Card Koke
45' + 2'

Yellow Card Giannis Maniatis
45'

A large melee ensues after the ball eventually goes out and Koke and Maniatis are in the thick of it, pushing and shoving. The duo are eventually summoned by the referee, who issues two yellow cards.
44'

The Olympiakos fans are booing and jeering Atletico at the moment as Maniatis is currently down. However, as the Spanish side move forward the captain of the home side jolts upright and gets back into position!
42'

Masuaku looks to effect the game in the final third again and this time he bursts forward down the flank and swings a cross into the box. Mitroglou looks to get on the end of it but Godin is well-positioned to head out of the danger area.
40'

Well each of the last two goals have arguably came against the run of play. The home side were obviously on a high after that second goal but they've been given an injection of reality after Mandzukic's strike back. Important they don't concede again before the break!
38'

Assist Cristian Ansaldi
38'

Goal Mario Mandzukic
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR ATLETICO! LOS COLCHONEROS CLAW ONE BACK! Ansaldi stretches his legs down the left-hand side and whips a perfect cross to the back post for Mandzukic, who retreats a yard before guiding a header back into the left corner! Terrific finish! Two-one! GAME ON!
37'

That's silly from Mitroglou. Godin finds himself in an uncomfortable position near his own corner flag, but the Greek decides to give him a heavy shove in the back, conceding the free kick. The Uruguayan was going nowhere!
35'

Yellow Card Alejandro Domínguez
35'

Dominguez is the latest player to go in to the book and it's for an extremely late challenge on Ansaldi near the touchline. The Italian was going nowhere and it is a daft booking for the Argentine, who doesn't escape the yellow despite going down clutching his leg.
33'

Well, it is things like that that can be the difference at this level. Atletico have enjoyed plenty of possession in the final third and certainly their fair share of headed chance, but they couldn't take advantage. Olympiakos have been ruthless.
31'

Goal Ibrahim Afellay
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR OLYMPIAKOS!! AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY!! Dominguez bursts forward down the left-hand side and passes inside to Afellay, who takes advantage of a horrible miscommunication by Mario Suarez and Ansaldi to get into the box and finish past Oblak! Two-nil! Incredible!
29'

The hosts may be soaking up a lot of pressure, but they are always a danger on the counterattack with the pace of Mitroglou, Dominguez, and Afellay.
28'

Juanfran leaves Kasami for dead with a beautiful nutmeg on the touchline and drives forward down the right wing. He gets to the byline and looks for the run of Mandzukic at the front post, but the Croatian was marshalled well by the Olympiakos defence and his attempt goes wide.
26'

Great defending from the hosts! Arda and Koke link up superbly on the edge of the box with a few neat one-twos but neither can gain enough room to get away a clean shot at goal. Olympiakos eventually make the block and clear up the park!
24'

Olympiakos are having to ride the storm here. Since they scored their opening goal they have been guilty of sitting further and further back, and Atletico have took advantage to boss the game. No real big chances for the visitors as of yet though.
22'

All of Atletico's dangerous forays forward are coming from crosses. The latest comes from Ansaldi who ventures down the left before whipping a ball into the box for Raul Garcia, who heads over the bar after being pressurised by Abidal.
20'

We get our first real glimpse of Mitrogolu as the former Fulham misfit collects the ball midway through the half and turns sharply before running forward. He is eventually crowded out though and loses possession after failing to release a pass to a team-mate.
18'

The Croatian finally looks to make a positive impact on the match as he gets on the end of an Arda corner kick to the front post. He just got beyond his marker to bullet a header towards goal, but it just goes a yard or two north of the bar. Good movement, though.
16'

Atletico just have not got going yet at all. As I mentioned before, the Mandzukic injury just halted their ascendancy at the start of the match, and they have still to recover. Olympiakos looking the more likely to grab the next goal at the moment.
14'

Diego Simeone's outfit are usually so fearsome at defending and indeed attacking set-pieces, but they were exposed terribly there as Afellay collected the short corner before passing back to Masuaku.
13'

Assist Ibrahim Afellay
13'

Goal Arthur Masuaku
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL FOR OLYMPIAKOS!! The home side take a quick corner kick and the ball eventually comes to Masuaku, who takes a few strides forward before lashing a 25 yard strike into the bottom right corner! Atletico caught off-guard! One-nil!
12'

Important clearance by Miranda! Kasami pops up on the right-hand side and teases a cross into the six yard box. Godin doesn't deal with it particularly well but he's helped out by his Brazilian defensive team-mate, who clears over the bar!
10'

Atletico fans out there will be pleased to know that Mandzukic has returned to the action with a healthy bundle of cotton wool stuffed up his nose. He's far too tough to let a some heavy bleeding stop him continuing!
9'

With Atletico sitting back, Abidal is invited forward to have a crack at goal. He does so, but his attempt his never troubling Oblak, who easily sees the dragged strike wide.
8'

Well that injury to the Croatian has just interrupted what looked like a promising opening couple of minutes. Neither side has managed to establish any kind of tempo of passing game as of yet.
6'

Griezmann has begun warming up for Los Colchoneros, so it remains to be seen whether Mandzukic will be able to return. There is quite a lot of blood flowing from his nose, so it is understandable the medical staff are taking their time to assess the situation.
4'

Some worrying scenes for Atletico at the moment as Mandzukic is currently down injured after taking a wayward elbow to the face from Kasami. No malice in it, but it was definitely a sore one. He's currently receiving treatment from the physios.
2'

Yellow Card Gabi
2'

Extremely early booking here for Gabi! Olympiakos looked to be bursting forward on the counterattack but the Atletico captain takes one for the team by cynically tripping Kasami in the middle of the park. He'll be walking on egg shells for quite a long time tonight!
1'

We are under way in Greece!
The Champions League theme sounds out in the stadium! The best is back!
Atletico are likely to field a similar formation with Mandzukic as the lone striker. However, he will be heavily supported by Raul Garcia and Arda Turan drifting in from their respective wings. Koke will provide penetration through the middle.
Atletico Madrid (4-5-1): Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Ansaldi; Raul Garcia, Mario Suarez, Gabi, Koke, Arda Turan; Mandzukic.
It looked like Michel is going for a rather attacking line-up this evening. Kasami and Milivojevic in the middle of the park will certainly push ahead to support Mitroglu, who will also look to introduce Afellay and Elabdellaoui to the action from their wide positions. Domiguez will likely feature in the No.10 role.
Olympiakos (4-4-1-1): Roberto; Maniatis, Botía, Abidal, Masuaku; Elabdellaoui, Milivojevic, Kasami, Afellay; Dominguez; Mitroglou.
TEAM NEWS...
The last time Olympiakos faced Atletico in European competition was in the 1992/93 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final. The Spanish outfit progressed to the semis on that day after recording a 4-2 victory.
Olympiakos recorded an impressive 2-0 victory against Manchester United in the first leg of the Round of 16 clash between the two sides last year. However, the Greek side appeared to buckle under the pressure at Old Trafford and ended up losing 3-0, eventually going out of the competition on aggregate. They will be hoping to build on their performances last season to go even further.
Atletico did manage to claim the Spanish Primera Division title last season over Madrid and Barcelona, and gone another one over Los Blancos this past weekend when they ran out narrow 2-1 winners at Santiago Bernabeu; the first time in history that they have claimed two consecutive away victories against Madrid in the league.
Diego Simeone's outfit came within seconds of Champions League glory in last season's final before Sergio Ramos' dramatic equaliser eventually saw arch rivals, Real Madrid, claim the title in extra time. They will be aiming for a similar path to the final this year but their first hurdle in the competition comes in the form of the Greek champions, who have been dominant domestically in the last year.
I'm Martin Macdonald, and I'll be taking you through the action from Pireas!
That's right...THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS BACK!
Good evening folks! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Champions League Group A clash between Olympiakos and Atletico Madrid from Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki!

Soccer World

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Half Time: Olympiakos vs Atl. madrid (Live)Eufa Ch League.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS

ATLÉTICO MADRID

LIVE COMMENTARY

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