Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Olympiacos
Match Time & Date:
24/08/2023
02:00 PM
Prediction: 3-1
Cukaricki
After spoiling Genk’s party at Cegeka Arena, Olympiakos will look to give fans yet another reason to celebrate when they take on Cukaricki in the Europa League qualifier. The Thrylos are seen as hot favourites to win the first leg and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at the Serbian outfit. Keep in mind, though, that Olympiakos defender Rodinei misses Thursday’s clash through suspension.
The Black and Whites, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-0 loss to IMT Novi Beograd at the weekend and given their lack of experience in European competitions, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. As for the visiting team, key attacker Djordje Ivanovic returns to the starting XI after he was rested in the last league match as well as Montenegro international Bojica Nikcevic.
Highlighted Player (Kostas Fortounis):
Born in Trikala Greece on 16 October, 1992, Kostas Fortounis made his senior debut for his hometown club Trikala in the 2009/2010 Gamma Ethniki campaign. After playing 13 games for the club he moved to Asteras Tripolis at the end of the season.
In 2011 the Greek midfielder moved to Germany, signing a deal with Kaiserslautern. Fortounis made 70 league appearances for Kaiser, scoring two goals from 2011 to 2014. On 22 July, 2014 he returned to Greece, signing a four-year contract with Olympiacos. It has to be noted that he played for the Thrylos during his youth career (2003-2008).
Kostas Fortounis made his Greece debut against Belgium in February, 2012 and he represented his homeland at the 2012 European Championship finals. However, he was left out of the Greece 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. His main position is attacking midfielder, but he is capable of playing as a winger as well. Fortounis won two Greek Superleague titles (2014/2015, 2015/2016) with Olympiakos.
Highlighted Team (Olympiacos):
Olympiakos are regarded as one of the biggest club in Greece. The Thrylos were founded back in 1925 and they play their home games at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. The capacity of the stadium is 33 296. In 2016 Olympiakos won their 43rd Greek Superleague trophy and it has to be noted that they clinched their sixth consecutive domestic title.
However, the club’s biggest success came in 1999 as they participated in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Red and whites were beaten by Juventus in the two-legged tie. It is well known that Panathinaikos are considered the club’s bitterest rivals and the two teams share a great and long-standing rivalry.
The likes of AEK and PAOK are regarded as Olympiakos’ fierce opponents as well. The likes of Javier Saviola, Kevin Mirallas, Darko Kovacevic, Lomana LuaLua, Joel Campbell, Rivaldo and Marko Pantelic are notable footballers who played for the club in the past. Olympiakos fans are friends with Red Star Belgrade supporters.
Austria 
Slovenia 
England 
Ireland 
Finland 
Greece 
Norway 
Kazakhstan
Israel 
Belgium
Italy 
France
