RANGERS will continue their UEFA Europa League league phase campaign with a visit to Greece to face Olympiacos this evening.
The Light Blues were victorious in their previous away encounter in Europe this season, running out 2-0 winners in a positive display in Sweden against Malmo.
Here’s everything you need to know about our Greek opponents this evening:
HISTORY
Founded in 1925, Olympiacos are the most successful side in Greek history and are the reigning UEFA Europa Conference League winners.
Indeed, the Athens-based outfit boast 47 league titles and 28 domestic cups, winning a remarkable seven consecutive Greek Super League honours on two separate occasions since 1997.
Olympiacos are also the only Greek side to win a major European trophy, reigning supreme in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in May following a 1-0 extra time victory over Fiorentina.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The two sides met just over 12 months ago in a pre-season friendly at Ibrox.
The visitors took the lead in the first-half before a James Tavernier penalty early in the second period drew the Light Blues level.
However, a double from Joao Carvalho, now of Portuguese side Estoril, saw the Greek side run away with the victory in an encounter played in good spirits.
STADIUM
Olympiacos play their home games at the Karaiskakis Stadium, which is the second largest sporting arena in Greece.
With a capacity of just over 30,000, the stadium hosted the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup final between Real Madrid and Chelsea.
More recently, Manchester City and Sevilla contested the 2023 UEFA Super Cup at the Karaiskakis, which was edged by the English champions on penalties.
CURRENT FORM
Olympiacos currently find themselves sitting in fourth place in the Greek Super League after a mixed start to the campaign.
Indeed, the side have strung together three victories in a row just once this campaign, although they arrive into this evening’s clash with confidence following victory over Panserraikos at the weekend.
On the European front, meanwhile, the Greek outfit have taken six points out of a possible nine, falling to defeat away to Olympique Lyonnais before overcoming Braga and Malmo.
MANAGER
The Greek side are managed by Jose Luis Mendilibar, who is most renowned for his coaching spell in La Liga.
The 63-year-old took over at Olympiacos in February earlier this year and immediately guided the club to their first ever European success, which included an emphatic 6-2 aggregate triumph over Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the last four.
Mendilibar is somewhat of a European specialist, guiding Sevilla to UEFA Europa League glory in 2023 with a penalty shootout victory over AS Roma.
KEY PLAYER
Ayoub El Kaabi was the difference maker for Olympiacos in the UEFA Europa Conference League last term and the Greek side will look to him once again.
The Moroccan forward has netted nine times already this campaign, including three strikes on the continental stage.
Indeed, the 31-year-old has scored in half of Olympiacos’ league outings this term and will shoulder even more of the attacking burden amid the injury absence of Turkey attacker Yusuf Yazici.