Olympiakos Piraeus (Home)
- Olympiakos Piraeus have won three of their last five domestic games (W3, D1, L1) including a 5-0 victory over Volos in the Greek Cup and a 3-0 home league victory.
- Olympiakos are third in the Super League on 39 points from 16 matches, 33 goals scored and eight conceded with a match in hand.
- Olympiakos Piraeus FC will attack Volos NFC in numbers, if not in waves, on Saturday because that’s just the way they play - and the way their coach José Luis Mendilibar wants them to play.
- He sets up his side in a structured 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system, but the style of play is very high tempo and aggressive with lots of pressing and direct, vertical play.
- They want to win the ball high and attack quickly, particularly down the wide channels where their wingbacks are supported by the number 10 and inside forward.
Volos NFC (Away)
- Juan Ferrando will have set up Volos to be compact and organised in their approach to the game as they look to frustrate Olympiakos and get opportunities on the break.
- The visitors are a workmanlike team with little flair, but plenty of quality in a direct sense with Maximiliano Comba and Saïd Hamulic both able to run at the defence and finish with aplomb while Juanpi can provide some technical quality in the number 10 role when available.
- Lazaros Lamprou, who is the top scorer and chief creator, is usually involved in goals that Volos score and can cause problems in transition and on set pieces.
Head-to-Head
Olympiakos have won 13 and drawn three of the last 16 head-to-head matchups with Volos NFC in all competitions ( Volos have not won ).
Key Players
- Fortunately, the team is full of quality players with Chiquinho - a key creative force and among the club’s top assist providers - as the creative hub in the middle of the park.
- The visitors are a workmanlike team with little flair, but plenty of quality in a direct sense with Maximiliano Comba and Saïd Hamulic both able to run at the defence and finish with aplomb while Juanpi can provide some technical quality in the number 10 role when available.
- Lazaros Lamprou, who is the top scorer and chief creator, is usually involved in goals that Volos score and can cause problems in transition and on set pieces.
Betting Insights
- The bookmakers have made Olympiakos very short odds of 1.15 to secure the victory here and that is fully justified given the head-to-head record, home advantage and squad strength the hosts possess.
- A 2-0 or 2-1 victory is the most likely outcome here, although Volos may get a goal on a set piece or counter attack.
- Over 2.5 goals looks a strong possibility at 1.53, given the superior firepower of the home team and the leaky defence of Volos, but it is a tough game to call because of the contrasting styles of play and the potential impact of heavy rain and thunderstorms that are forecast for matchday in Piraeus.
Prediction
Volos are longshots and the draw has little chance, so I will back the hosts to come through with a win.
