Olympiacos sealed its place at the top of the Super League standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lamia, concluding the year 2024 on a winning note. The match, held at the renowned “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium, marked the 16th round of the Stoiximan Super League, ensuring the ‘Red-and-whites’ head for the Christmas break sitting alone at the summit.
From the outset, Olympiacos struggled to assert dominance, allowing Lamia to create opportunities early on. Just two minutes in, Lamia’s Athanasakopoulos took a powerful shot, which Olympiacos goalkeeper Tzolakis expertly saved, maintaining parity. Lamia continued to threaten, with Tzolakis again called upon to thwart Henriquez's effort at the 15-minute mark. Tensions grew among Olympiacos supporters, who were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the team's sluggish start.
The home side responded to the pressure by making tactical adjustments. On the 27th minute, Biancone came on to replace Carmo, after which Olympiacos started showing signs of life. Several attempts followed, yet the breakthrough remained elusive for the first half. The most notable opportunity occurred during first-half stoppage time when El Kaabi scored from close range but was denied as the goal was overturned for offside after VAR review.
The second half saw Olympiacos come out with renewed vigor, eager to rectify their earlier mistakes. An early strike from Mouzakitis went awry, and Lamia managed one more chance through Henriquez, but it was clear Olympiacos was gradually taking control. The game’s turning point arrived in the 64th minute when Costinha, who had just been substituted onto the pitch, delivered a precise cross. Martins was on hand to convert, making no mistake to finally put the home side on the scoreboard and breaking the deadlock.
Despite the lead, Olympiacos continued to push for more goals. During the latter stages of the match, they almost doubled their advantage but were met with strong resistance from Lamia’s Raton, who made several key saves, including one from Chiquinho's close-range shot.
Throughout the match, Olympiacos demonstrated resilience, with Tzolakis remaining vigilant and ensuring Lamia’s limited incursions were effectively quashed. The final moments of the match saw frantic exchanges as Lamia desperately searched for an equalizer, but with solid defensive work from Olympiacos, particularly through Pirola and Rotsos, the clean sheet was preserved.
With the final whistle, Olympiacos celebrated not just the victory but also their standing at the top of the league table. Coach Jose Luis Mendilibar expressed satisfaction with the team’s persistence and resilience. "It was tough today, and sometimes, these matches reveal character more than anything else. The players showed tenacity and held their ground when it mattered most," he stated.
Players took to social media to express their excitement and gratitude to their fans for their unwavering support, especially during challenging games. With the victory, Olympiacos heads confidently toward the new year, eager to maintain their grip on the top position as the league resumes.
The team for Olympiacos included Tzolakis, Rodinei (substituted for Costinha at 57'), Pirola (Retsos at 82'), Biancone, Ortega, Mouzakitis (Oliveira at 58'), Garcia, Chiquinho, Martins, Kostoulas (Velde at 82'), and El Kaabi. For Lamia, coach Leonidas Vokolos sent out Raton, Kornezos, Siovas (Saramantas at 90+1'), Leo Andrade, Radonja, Athanasakopoulos (Tereziou at 90+1'), Doiranlis, Vitlis, Dentakis, Ring (Vlachomitros at 68'), and Henriquez (Bykov at 82').
The clash not only marked three important points for Olympiacos but also set the tone as they venture forth, determined to maintain their commanding position and carry forward their momentum as they enter 2025.
