Bordeaux needs to maintain their goal scoring ways today in Pireaus. (Photo: ZumaPress)
Like Stuttgart, Olympiacos came out of a weak Champions League group stage quartet. Unlike Stuttgart, they have not been “put to the sword” by their Round of 16 match-up.
Perk-up those ears, Ligue 1 supporters, because I said it: Bordeaux is not Barcelona, and I’ll take it a step further. This is not the worst match-up for an Olympiacos team that has the talent and mentality to steal a close match. The question is whether Bordeaux will allow this match to stay close.
In their last two matches, Bordeaux has shown a willingness to play to their talent level, leave two season’s worth of the 1-0’s behind them, and play impressive football. Following their 4-2 loss at Stade Rennes two weeks ago, Bordeaux has beaten Saint-Étienne and Lorient by a 7-2 aggregate. For a club that is amongst Europe’s most talented yet had only scored 31 goals in the 21 preceding league matches, seven goals in two match is a profound outburst (Lorient was in Coupe de la Ligue).
In Champions League, Bordeaux has been stronger. The reigning French champions got four points from trips to Turin and Munich, cruising to the top of Group A with a 9:2 goal ratio. If Laurent Blanc continue effectively managing this Jekyll and Hyde act, Bordeaux can win this tournament.
The next step will have to be done without two critical midfield pieces. Alou Diarra – the destroyer in front of the strong Girondins back line – is out, and Jaroslav Plansil – invaluable since his summer move from Spain – is a major doubt (though he is in the squad). Their absences will not only force understudies into the lineup (Ludovic Sané likely plays) but also inhibit Blanc’s formation and tactical options.
It may also force Bordeaux to got back to their conservative mindset in Pireaeus, where Olympiacos is 4-0-0 this season in Champions League. Speaking to their ability to play in close matches, the Greek champions have allowed only one goal at home in those four matches and have yet to concede more than two goals this year in a Champions League match.
The hosts will be without young Brazilian attacker Diogo and star midfielder Dudu, also Brazilian. Even without them, Olympiacos will feature names recognizable to even those two don’t follow the team: Argentine midfielders Cristian Ledesma and Jesus Dátolo, Swedish defender Olaf Mellberg, young Englishman Matt Derbyshire, Greek international defenders Vassilis Torosidis and Kiriakos Papadopoulos, as well as venerable goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis.
Olympiacos is a team with talent in defense, and if Bordeaux reverts to their unambitious form, this will be a (euphemistically) tactical match.
Even if Olympiacos does not leave Greece in front, they could still be dangerous in France. Bordeaux needs to maintain their goal scoring ways. Else, players like Diogo, Dátolo or young Greek star Kostas Mitroglou could steal this tie.
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