Walk in Larissa with “hot” El Kaabi for Olympiakos and now Barcelona!

He’s back to winning ways, doing… warming up ahead Barcelona and AEK Olympiacos. The “red and white” prevailed 2-0 of AEL Novibet away for the 7th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League before the “hot” week that follows. He made his debut Stelios Malezas on the “maroon” bench.

The main protagonist was Ayoub El Kaabiwho returned to the goals, scoring bis. With… a bum heel in the 1st minute, while in the 44th minute he sent the ball into the net with a penalty after Kovacevic’s hand. Poor 2-0 in the first half, as o Moroccan he had two huge chances, while he came close to making it 3-0 against Podence. Very good appearance in the first part by the Portuguese, as well as Yazitsi who was a starter.

In the second part, Olympiacos played at… idleconserving forces in view of the difficult continuation. Yaremchuk returned to action after 155 days, a positive league debut for Mansa.

In the coach’s mind

With 4-3-3 Stelios Malezas lined up AEL Novibet. Melissas is at the finish line. Tsakla and Bakaliannis in the stoppers, with Deligiannidis and Kovasevich in the backs. Staikos, Peres and Hadjistravos in the midfield, with Nurgos and Warda in the “wings”, while Pasha is at the top.

Loyal to 4-2-3-1 the Mediliber. Tzolakis in the goal, in the stoppers Retsos and Mansa, with Kostinia and Ortega in the back. Scipioni and Ese in the midfield, with Yazici and Podense on the wings, while El Kaabi in the attack.

The match

Many times we say with an overdose in a quick goal that “the coach could not have imagined a better start». These are the cases that are this statement is accurate. Olympiacos, which is used to “flying” the first half this year, entered strongly, with the clear goal of finding the 1-0 very early. Podense and Ortega worked well together from the left, with the Argentine making the overlap and turn at the front post, with El Kaabi to score with a heel before a minute of action is completed.

With the same momentum – as if it had not opened – Olympiacos continued, looking for a second goal early. The home team’s first attempt to break the deadlock came in the 7th minute, with Deligiannidis making the turn and Retsos sending off.

THE El Kaabi he almost scored a new goal in the 10th minute. Even better than 0-1. Podense crossed well from the left and the Moroccan looked to score with upside down scissorsbut the ball went just wide.

Immediately after Yazitsi made nice crosses, El Kaabi turned headwith Melissa blocking. The first final of AEL Novibet took place at 12′. From the mistake of Kostinias, Hatzistravos took and placed, with Tzolakis blocking.

Olympiacos also had a good moment in the 14th minute, with El Kaabi leaving very quickly on the counterattack, sharing for Chikinios, but the Bagalianis drove out lifeguards.

Olympiacos had the opportunity to do damage to the “crimsons” in the 20th minute, with Yazitsi to distribute in the area for El Kaabi, but the Moroccan was late and closed.

In the 23rd minute, El Kaabi found himself in a shooting position from Yazitsi’s ball, the Moroccan “armed” and executed, but Chakla put a “stop” on the ace of Piraeus.

After the middle of the half, the Larissa team started to go up the field, seeing that the Medilibar team dropped the tension somewhat and had a good moment in the 29th minute. Kovacevic’s cross from the left was deflected by Mansa and Tzolakis blocked before the situation became even more difficult for the “red and white” defence.

Olympiacos had a huge chance to make it 2-0 in the 38th minute. Yazici, Costinia and Ciquinho worked together brilliantly, with the Portuguese serving to El Kaabi who crossed with one, sending the ball just wide.

In the 41st minute, there was the penalty phase which brought the 2-0 for Piraeus. At Jazici’s corner, Mansa takes a full shot, the ball finds Kovacevic’s hand. The referee Tsakalides, after an onfield review, showed the white bullet, from which the El Kaabi he did it 2-0 in the 44th minute.

At 45’+1′ o El Kaabi left verticallyhe crossed and Melissas blocked. Two minutes later, Olympiacos had a great chance to make it 3-0. Ese crossed for Podense, who slotted the ball just wide of the left post.

In the second half, Olympiacos slowed down, played at… idle. With AEL Novibet having a good moment in the 55th minute with Bagaliannis not managing to make contact to take advantage of Mourgos’ turn. In the 64th minute, Staikos made a long shot, with Tzolakis pushing away.

THE Jose Luis Mendilibar he put in more fresh legs afterwards to energize his team on the one hand, but also to protect them for the demanding matches that follow.

At 73′ a penalty was given to Bruno for marking Mourgos, but it was taken back by Tsakalides after an onfield review, as the international full-back found the ball.

THE Olympic he didn’t do much offensively overall in the second half and it’s telling that he had just two finals compared to 11 in the first half. One of them ended up being kicked out by Mouzakitis in the 82nd minute after Pontense’s attempt. However, the people of Piraeus did not worry and reached the “three points” with… a walk.

MVP: Ayoub El Kaabi rightfully takes the credit for this performance. In the first half, in which there was actually a match, Yazitsi was very good, savoring the game of Olympiakos. As is Pontense.

Whistle: In the end, no serious mistake was made. However, Tsakalides is “charged” with two mistakes. The disallowance of a penalty for Kovacevic’s hand in Olympiakos’ 0-2, which was given through VAR, while with the help of technology he took back the one he gave against Bruno. With the back of Piraeus finding the ball and not the legs of Mourgos. Only the hands used by the international full-back could perhaps be discussed.

The film of the fight

The compositions

AEL Novibet (Stelios Malezas): Melissas – Deligiannidis (21′ lt Papageorgiou), Tsakla, Bagalianis, Kovacevich (46′ Ouattara) – Staikos, Peres, Hadjistravos (72′ Andrada) – Mourgos, Warda (57′ Tupta), Pasha (57′ Garate)

Olympiakos (Jose Luis Mediliber): Tzolakis – Costinia, Retsos, Mansa, Ortega (58′ Bruno) – Scipioni (65′ Mouzakitis), Ese – Yazitsi (58′ Campela), Chiquinho (72′ Nascimento), Podense – El Caabi (72′ Yaremchuk)

Referee: Alexandros Tsakalides

Assistants: Andreas Meidanas, Michalis Papadakis

Fourth: George Kokkinos

VAR: Basil of Fire, Alexander the Great