The last friendly match of Olympiacos, before the start of the new season, against S.S.C. Napoli, ended in a 3-0 defeat for our team. A result which does not do justice to the image of the game, since the “red and whites” had chances to score and were not bad on the defense.
Leonardo Jardim chose a 4-2-3-1 formation. Carroll was the goalkeeper. Torossidis and Holevas were the two full backs and Siovas with Papazoglou the two centre backs. Fejsa and Maniatis were the midfielders, Abdoun was playing at the right, Lykogiannis at the left and Machado was behind the only striker, Raffik Djebbour.
On the first half our team stood well on the pitch, was not threatened too much with a classic chance by the Italian team and created some chances for goal on its own, without scoring though. On the 10th minute Raffik Djebbour took a shot but missed by an inch. On 13’ Napoli created an opportunity, when Dzemaili shot from the right, outside the box. The ball went above Caroll’s goalpost.
On 25’ Napoli scored from a set piece. The foul that was given to Dzemaili never happened (Siovas clearly took the ball). Napoli’s player took the shot and defeated Carroll, marking 1-0. Torossidis made a good cross on 29’, but the ball bounced against Cannavaro and ended in a corner. Machado took the set piece Djebbour took the header but missed by an inch, while Rosati was just “watching” the ball go by.
On the second half Leonardo Jardim made some changes. Ibagaza (creative midfielder), Greco (partner of Maniatis as the defensive midfielders), Contreras (centre back in Papazoglou’s place) and Mitroglou (centre forward) took their place on the pitch. Machado played to the left and Djebbour to the right.
At the start of the second half Napoli made it 2-0. On 48’ and after a counter attack by the Italians, Maggio received the ball and took a shot from the right, outside the box. Carroll saved but Hamsik took advantage and with a second shot he scored.
On 55’ Torossidis entered the box, received the pass from Fejsa and took the shot, but missed. On 59’ Ibagaza took the corner kick and Siovas the header but Rosati gathered the ball easily. Our team was looking for the goal to start turning the game around, and Napoli played the counter attack. On 60’ the Italians won a corner. Insigne took it, Gamberini took the header and marked the third goal for Napoli.
On 62’ Machado found Djebbour on the right and he took the shot but could not direct it properly and missed the target. Greco’s free kick on 74’ had the same ending and so did Modesto’s shot on 80’.
S.S.C. NAPOLI: Rosati, Gamberini, Cannavaro, Britos, Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler, Hamsik, Aronica, Vargas, Insigne. Donadel, Gargano, Behrami and Bariti also played.
OLYMPIACOS F.C.: Carroll, Torossidis (79’ Fuster), Holevas, Papazoglou (46’ Contreras), Siovas, Fejsa (46’ Creco), Maniatis, Abdoun (46’ Ibagaza), Lykogiannis (46’ Mitroglou), Machado (74’ Modesto), Djebbour (85’ Vlahodimos).
