Olympiacos Back on Top
- Thrylos 7 Intl Team
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The league table looks right again, and Olympiacos sit where they belong — first place in Greece.After a 3–1 win over Kifissia, the Red-and-Whites reclaimed the top spot following Panathinaikos’ win over PAOK, and while the scoreboard says “routine,” the game itself — and the weekend — told a much deeper story.
The Match: Dominant but Frustrating
Olympiacos were in control from minute one, even if the referee seemed determined to make a game out of it. Three goals ruled out — two harshly, one fairly — turned what could have been a rout into a test of patience.
Diogo Nascimento opened the scoring with his first goal for the club — a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.
Ayoub El Kaabi bagged two penalties, both won by Gelson Martins, whose dribbling and direct play kept Kifissia pinned back all afternoon.
The home side equalised through a Rodinei lapse, but that was the extent of their joy.
It finished 3–1, but it could’ve easily been five or six. The xG (for those who care) backed that up — over 2.5 expected goals and nearly twenty attempts. In short: Olympiacos are starting to look fluid again.
Line-up and Tactical Shifts: A Hint of Change
The starting eleven had a few surprises — Rodinei at right-back instead of the in-form Costinha, and Mouzakitis in midfield alongside Nascimento and Chiquinho.With Dani Garcia and Santiago Hezze sidelined, José Luis Mendilibar had to be flexible — and it worked.
For the third straight game (after Volos and PSV), Olympiacos showed they can play offensive, fluid football without double sixes anchoring the midfield. It’s the kind of approach fans have been begging for — and proof that sometimes necessity is the mother of tactical progress.
As Martial put it on yesterday's podcast:
“This feels like last season’s turning point — when injuries forced Mendilibar to change things and suddenly we looked alive again.”
Player Spotlight: Diogo Nascimento Shines
If there was ever a coming-of-age performance for the young Portuguese midfielder, this was it. Nascimento didn’t just score — he dictated tempo, connected lines, and looked like a player born for this shirt. Mendilibar’s post-match quote said it all:
“He applies what we do in training. He listens, he learns, and he executes.”
That might sound simple, but under Mendilibar, that’s the golden ticket to consistent minutes.
Nascimento’s intelligence, one-touch play, and vertical movement were exactly what Olympiacos have lacked in deeper midfield roles.If he adds a bit more physicality, he could be Champions League material before long.
The El Kaabi Question
Nine goals already this season — but over half from penalties.The Moroccan’s work rate remains immense — pressing, running, harassing defenders — but in open play, he’s misfiring.
As Ari noted:
“He’s missing sitters he used to bury. The conversion rate’s down to 11%, from nearly 30% last year.”
Age might be creeping in, or maybe it’s just a slow start. But Olympiacos need him sharp come spring if they’re to push for European knockouts and another title.
The Rodinei Dilemma
Last year’s talismanic right-back has become a walking offside trap. Literally. His defensive positioning cost Olympiacos the goal they conceded — and it’s a recurring theme.
Rodinei’s energy is unmatched, but at 34, his legs are no longer keeping up with his heart.He still offers value — just not at right-back anymore. With Costinha growing into one of the most complete full-backs Olympiacos have had in years, the Brazilian’s future may lie further up the pitch… or on the bench.
Man of the Match & Coach’s Grade
MVP: Diogo Nascimento
Honourable Mention: Gelson Martins (for winning both penalties and relentless pressing)
Coach’s Grade: A – Right balance, right intent, right result.
Olympiacos dominated the game, adjusted well after the equaliser, and never looked in danger of dropping points. Mendilibar might be stubborn, but when he adapts, it pays off.
Final Thoughts
Olympiacos are top of the league, playing better football, and beginning to rediscover rhythm.There’s still rust — El Kaabi’s finishing, Rodinei’s defending, decision-making in the final third — but there’s also promise: Diogo's rise, Mouzakitis’ consistency, the return of flow in attack.
And beyond the first team, there’s a bigger question looming — can Olympiacos turn their youth success into a conveyor belt for the future, or will old habits return?
For now, though, the fans can breathe easy. Top of the league. Champions League knockout hopes still alive. And a Sunday that finally feels Red and White again.
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