Leonardo Jardim invested on Carroll for the goalkeeper post. Cholevas took on the left side and Torosidis the right; Manolas and Contreras were the central defenders. Midfield, Modesto was the first defensive midfielder in front of the defensive line. Maniatis and Machado completed the midfield triangle. Fuster had the forward right position, Greco on the left and Rafik Djebbour at the top of the offensive line.
The match kicked-off with home playing Montpellier FC trying to keep Olympiacos on the back foot. In the opening five minutes, Olympiacos seemed startled. Belhanda took thew shot on 8 minutes that passed wide. The home team was more aggressive, and our side stood waiting for the opponent to attack, waiting however for the proper opportunity to “strike”. Belhanda had another shot on 17, off the target.
On 19’, Greco stormed from the left in style, left two Montpellier players back, who just stood looking at him! The Italian picked on Djebbour with the cross, who tried to tap the ball in, but he failed for centimeters to connect and the chance was wasted. Jardim kept on changing positions for Fuster and Djebbour, but preserved Greco on the left.
After 30’ minutes of play, Olympiacos would feel no actual threat, but couldn’t also find ways to seriously attack Pionnier’s goalmouth. However, the Greek side patiently kept looking for that. On 38’, Machado attempted a shot from outside the penalty box, but passed off the target. On 42’, Utaka crossed it to Charbonnier, who took a turning, yet weak, shot and Carroll blocked it. After one minute of injury time, referee Orsato send both sides to the dressing room for the break.
A few minutes after the start of the second half, the French managed to do what they have been trying to the whole first half: To catch our side by surprise. On 49’, Utaka met the ball, following handball while trying to control it, laid it back to storming Charbonnier who volleyed low in the net.
On 55’, Olympiacos missed a golden chance to draw level! Machado takes the free-kick from the low right-hand side of the box, picking Modesto to the far post. The latter smoothly curled it in for Fuster to far post who failed to turn it in with a header! Utaka’s shot was solidly dealt with by Carroll on 59 minutes. On 60’, Abdoun replaces Greco in the pitch.
Bad luck hit Olympiacos, when Djebbour felt discomfort at the hamstring of his right leg and Kostas Mitroglou replaces him on 70 minutes. A shot by Belhanda passes wide on 71’.
Olympiacos was waiting for the proper moment to “strike” and did so on 73’! Cholevas took the free-kick form the right. Torosidis controlled the ball in the 6-yard box and converted it with a decisive stab, reminding us the way Stoltidis had done so against Socheau in 2005, for our side’s equalizer!
The total comeback took place on 91΄ when Kostas Mitroglou managed to present our side with a great victory. Abdoun intercepted the ball from the right, crossed it low and the Greek striker tapped it in into the defenseless goal, 2-1!
Nothing changed in the last minutes of the match, and our team left the pitch having recorded a golden away win in France!
MONTPELLIER: Pionnier, Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Bedimo, Utaka, Mounier (62’ Estrada), Charbonnier (68’ Camara), Belhanda, Cabella, Stambouli, Saihi.
OLYMPIACOS: Carroll, Torosidis, Cholevas, Manolas, Contreras, Modesto, Maniatis, Machado, Fuster (88΄ Lykogiannis), Greco (60’ Abdoun), Djebbour (70΄ Mitroglou).
• Our side played having no sponsor on the jersey, because of the French legislation on advertising lottery companies by clubs.
• A thousand or so Olympiacos fans, attending the match, created a splendid atmosphere in Montpellier. They would sing all the time and make their voices heard all the time during the match.
• For the 1st time this year, Olympiacos players put on the striped, red-and-white shirt, with white shorts and white socks.
