OR Arsenal is getting ready to welcome the Olympicfor the 2nd Champions League League Phase (01.10.2025, 22:00, Newsit.gr, Mega, Cosmote TV Sport 2) and wanted to analyze her tomorrow’s opponent.
In Arsenal’s tribute to Olympiacos – as presented on the English team’s website – the Londoners talk in flattering words about the Piraeus, while referring to Jose Luis Mentilibar, the roster of the team, in the last year’s and this year’s “this year’s”.
So Arsenal’s friends will know what they need, for tomorrow’s team’s opponent in the Champions League
“THE HISTORY OF OLYMPIC
Founded in 1925, Olympiacos is based in Piraeus, the historic Attica-Limani city. The club’s name is inspired by the Olympics, and in addition to football it has sections in many sports such as basketball, polo, volleyball and handball.
Olympiacos is undoubtedly the most successful Greek club with 48 championships – more than all other teams in the country (41) have overall. It has a total of 82 titles, ranking the 15th most successful football club in the world in conquests. Its domination began in the 1930s, and between 1937 and 1955 won six unbeaten championships. Other “golden times” were the series of seven titles in 1997–2003, but also in 2011–2017.
At European level, Olympiacos is the only Greek team to have won a European trophy, celebrating the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League, when it defeated Fiorentina in the final hosted at the AEK stadium. In fact, he became the first club outside the “Big 4” European Championships to win one of the UEFA events after 2011.
The best run in the Champions League came in 1998/99, where after wins in a Porto, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb group, he was close to the semifinals. After a 2-1 defeat by Juventus in Turin, the “reds” won 1-0 until 85 ‘in the rematch of Karaiskakis, but Antonio Conte’s goal deprived the four-way dream.
The coach
Jose Luis Mendilibar took over Olympiacos in February 2024 and in just three months led him to the historic conference League. The experienced Basque coach, with a march starting in 1994, had worked exclusively in Spain until his proposal from Olympiacos.
His best -known term was in Eibar, which he lasted for five seasons in La Liga. He has also passed through Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Levante, Alaves and Valladolid (where he won Segunda in 2006/07). In the highlights and the conquest of the Europa League in 2023 with Sevilla after the victory over Roma.
Last year’s season
Olympiacos celebrated 100 years with another double in 2024/25 – the 19th of his history. Although he started with just 4 wins in 9 games, he then made a stunning run, losing just 6 points in 17 games and finished 16 points ahead of Panathinaikos. In the playoffs he got 4 wins in 5 games and won the championship again, his first after three years (after PAOK and AEK successes).
In the cup he excluded Kallithea, Panathinaikos and AEK, while in the final he won OFI with a goal by Yaremtsuk and El Kabi.
This year
This year’s return to the Champions League is the first after 2020/21 (Marseille, Manchester City and Porto). This year’s first race ended 0-0 against Paphos.
In the Greek Championship, Olympiacos remains undefeated, first in the standings, with four wins and one draw (1-1 with Panathinaikos). In his last match he needed Tsiginio’s 96 ‘goals to bend Levadiakos in Karaiskakis.
The roster
With an average age of 29 years and 263 days, Olympiacos has one of the most experienced roster in this year’s Champions League (behind only Inter and Paphos).
Ayub El Kabi was the big protagonist last year, with 27 goals in all competitions. He was followed by Ukrainian Roman Yaremchuk with 10.
Right Buck Rodinei stood out with 14 assists, even in front of his teammate and European 2016 champion Zelson Martins.
In the summer there were 8 transfers, best known as Daniel Pontense (borrowed by Al Sabab), Mehdi Tarhemi (formerly Porto and Inter), Remy Cabella (formerly Newcastle) and Julian Biancon (formerly).
The previous conflicts
The two teams have been confronted 12 times in history, with absolute balance (6 wins Arsenal, 6th Olympiacos). In the Champions League they were together in groups in the 2009/10, 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons – every time with the home teams prevailing.
The last appointment in the Champions League was 2015/16. Arsenal had lost 3-2 at home and wanted to win a two goals in Karaiskakis to qualify. Olivier Zirou scored a hat-trick in legendary 0-3.
Then, coached by Michael Artetta, Olympiacos excluded Arsenal from the Europa League in 2019/20, but the Londoners took revenge the following year with a qualification for the “8”, thanks to a goal by Odegaard, Gabriel and Elni in the first match of 20.