The good old El Arabi and the… new handsome Olympiacos of Martinez!

The season “Diego Martinez” has started in Olympiakos and the first samples are encouraging! The red and whites in their first friendly on Austrian soil against Slovakhad an excellent first half and good periods in the second beating me 2-1.

The first goals of the new season by El Arabiwho showed his old good face again, while overall the Piraeus brought out several new elements on the pitch: High pressing at intervals, good and quick ball circulation, collaborations in the last third of the pitch and creation.

At the same time, the Fortune, Rodney the top players were excellent as long as they competed, while o El Arabi also liked the particularly active one It’s pouring. They also took time to participate Pepe, Buttucci who had little with the Olympiakos jersey, while the young man Liatsos he produced good figures during the time he fought in the second part.

In the coach’s mind

His first, unofficial, eleven was chosen by Diego Martinez to Olympic for the friendly with the Slovak. The Spanish manager in his maiden XI selected players who were mostly not internationals, which was to be expected.

Tzolakis in goal and Rodinei, Doi, Ba, Reabchiuk in the four defense. Bouhalakis and Karvalios are defensive midfielders, Fortounis in front of him, with Biel, Vrousai on the wings and El Arabi at the top of the attack.

The match

THE Olympic was very good in the first half and constantly created phases against Slovak. The first good moment in the match came in the 11th minute, when Fortune avoided two opponents and opened to Vrousai, he turned the ball at the same time but the Greek midfielder and El Arabi they couldn’t finish the phase!

Three minutes later the “red and white” had a huge opportunity to open the scoring, with Rodney to turn to El Arabi who squared into the move but countered and went past the left post. Diego Martinez’s team marred their superiority with a goal in the 29th minute. THE Biel broke nicely to El Arabiwith the Moroccan from close range making it 1-0.

The Czechs had a good moment in the 41st minute with his close header Michalikbut o Tzolakis he made a huge operation and kept his hearth clean. In general, Slovakia played on the counter-attacks and did not threaten particularly, except for a few moments. Olympiacos found the net for the second time, specifically in the 44th minute, with Fortune to make a nice slash, o El Arabi he passed two of his opponents and scored 2-0 from a difficult angle, with Piraeus going to the locker room with a significant lead.

THE Olympic showed great spirit in the first quarter and o Diego Martinez he showed early passing some of his “wants”. Down the ball, it doesn’t often get off the pitch. Quick circulation from the Piraeus, with the full-backs moving up high and taking part in the organization of the play.

THE Slovak started the second half with a goal, specifically in the 49th minute. THE Kim he did an incredible race, he came back too Yuroska closely defeated him Paschalaki who was substituted, for 2-1.

However, the two coaches made changes on both sides with the pace of the game having dropped noticeably, while this… was not helped by the heat of course, as well as the fatigue from the preparation.

THE Olympic at intervals he showed some of the elements frequently requested by Diego Martinez. For example, we saw several times the high pressing that the Spanish coach wants. It’s obviously still early days, but some of his “wants” were evident on the pitch. With the young Liatsos showing good examples in the time he played, while Butucci, Pepe, Zinkernagel, who we haven’t seen much with the red and whites, also got time to play.

Until the final whistle nothing changed, the 2-1 remained in favor of him Olympiakouwho showed a very good image in his first friendly.

This is how you watched the Olympiakos friendly match Live from sportfm.gr.