CL: Olympiakos vs. Chelsea - TalkSoccer

Dellas · 18-02-2008, 04:03 PM

source: BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Olympiakos v Chelsea

Olympiakos will be a tough team to beat at the Karaiskaki but we might get a result there....should definitely get a draw at the very least. Kovacevic and Lua Lua are 2 to look out for. Kovacevic said he lives for these games and to score goals in the CL against big teams.

Bionic man should be ready and Drogba should be ok as well.

I hope the game is still on because on Sunday and today there was a massive snow storm in Greece and the pitch might not be ready. Fortunately they landed before the airport closed however they crazily landed during the bad weather.

[EDIT:]

Quote:

Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka are poised to lead the attack, flanked by Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Michael Essien is set to be handed a defensive midfield role with Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack paired again in the centre of the park.

I'd prefer Joe on the wing or Malouda and have SWP as a dynamic super sub, use his pace when the defenders are tired. Actually better would be Kalou on the wing.

**Sven** · 18-02-2008, 04:09 PM

Looking forward to this, got the day off as well

.

Drogba back, in fact everyone is practically back, might actually see our full strength side finally this season.

Dellas · 18-02-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Lemonis: Aware of what is required

Olympiakos coach Panagiotis Lemonis has warned his side that they cannot afford to make any mistakes against Chelsea.

The Greek champions entertain the Blues on Tuesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie.

Olympiakos qualified comfortably for this stage of the competition from a group containing Real Madrid, Werder Bremen and Lazio, so have already proved that they are no pushovers.

Despite their impressive progress so far they will go into the game against Chelsea as underdogs, but their coach feels that as long as they keep things tight at the back then they have enough quality within their squad to trouble Avram Grant's side.

Determination

"Chelsea are not the most spectacular team in Europe, if the truth be told," Lemonis said.

"They are very compact, excellent in defence, and lethal in attack. In games like these, you have to keep errors down to a minimum.

"Our chances will depend on how we play defensively, just like in our previous matches in the competition. Chelsea are the favourites, of course, but we are determined to put up a fight.

"The only thing that bothers me is when I see my players lacking passion, strength or determination on the pitch.

"My only demand for the games against Chelsea is to be proud of our performances afterwards. We are waiting impatiently to see how the coming weeks unfold."

LuaLua

The Olympiakos squad for the game is likely to include Lomana LuaLua, a striker who has plenty of prior experience of facing Chelsea following spells in England with Newcastle and Portsmouth.

He also credits Grant with saving his career following a difficult period in his life which saw him lose his newborn son and get arrested for a domestic disturbance involving a former partner.

Grant was director of football at Portsmouth at the time and LuaLua admits that he was ready to walk away from the game altogether before sitting down with the Israeli coach.

Retire

"Avram is a top man and was a good friend to me," he said.

"I was having a bad time coming to terms with the death of my baby son and had fallen out of love with football. It did go through my mind to retire.

"I spoke to Avram a lot and he told me to keep smiling and things would work out for me."

source: Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | Chelsea | Lemonis - We must show passion

Dellas · 19-02-2008, 09:49 PM

Pretty boring game tbh. Second half we attacked but we couldn't pick out the last pass. Olympiakos defended with 11 men behind the ball but Chelsea didn't play very well in attack tbh, we slowed down the ball when we were on the counter attack. I'm not surprised we didn't win a draw is fine. They have to come to Stamford Bridge and there I am confident that we can win.

So overall not disappointed with the result. Disappointed with the performance of Ballack, J.Cole and to a certain extent Malouda. I think that Ballack and Joe were really uneffective.

Where is the nice attractive football??

**Sven** · 20-02-2008, 09:09 AM

very boring, I started watching Roma vs Real game, to see Robben play...

Olympiacos missed there chance getting a good lead, both team just let each other sit back, hit on the counter.

probs had a eye on for Sunday.

I can't see anyone beating us at home, hopefully Lampard will start, as he is our most vital player.